How Home Abuse Affects Children
Fortunately, there is a growing awareness of the myriad devastating effects that domestic abuse can have. Experts have pointed out that many women are exposed to physical harm on a daily basis and are even threatened with death. In addition, we know that physical violence is not the only thing that hurts people.
Mental injury is another consequence of abuse. And this does not only apply to the victim. It is important to remember that even children suffer in situations where there is abuse at home .
They are silent witnesses to a violent, uncontrolled situation. Very often the children take the blame for what happens. But how does this affect them on the psychological level?
Abuse in the home and the effects on the child’s attachment
Children are born with a variety of needs. Some examples are protection, parental love, stability and socialization. If the needs are met in an appropriate and consistent way, the children will trust the parents’ love. They also learn that they deserve it.
In situations where one parent rapes the other, the children and their needs are very threatened. It is very difficult for children to feel safe in this kind of environment. It is also unlikely that they will have confidence in their parents or that they can count on their parents to take care of them. Emotionally, adults are often neither available nor able to give them the love they deserve. Instead, they just become a source of negative emotions and feelings.
Parents happen to give their children a safe environment. They should offer a refuge when the children need it. Their sons and daughters should be able to see them as a safe starting point to go out and explore the world.
But when there is abuse in the home, it is the opposite so that the parents spread their fear to the children. The children see how a parent lives in fear in their own home. They cry and scream without finding comfort.
As a result, children living in abusive relationships usually form attachments to their parents based on insecurity and avoidance. Furthermore , abused mothers may have a negative view of their children and consider themselves bad mothers. Sometimes this leads to postpartum depression.
How does abuse affect a child’s development?
Abuse in the home does not only hinder the development of a secure connection (which is so important for the well-being of children). It also has consequences for the child’s normal psychological development. It is easy to understand that children who witness abuse at an early age suffer from negative health effects, both socially and emotionally.
In addition, they may have difficulty identifying and managing their emotions. Children often perceive that it is their fault that the situation has arisen. They may also experience anxiety, even though they do not understand what they are feeling or why. And so they try to suppress these negative emotions, which turn into chronic ailments.
Experts have also found that children who have been abused have severely disturbed self-esteem and self-image. Behavioral and socialization-related problems may occur. They may have difficulty relating to peers and other adults.
Abuse in the home and post-traumatic stress in children
Children who have experienced violent situations can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even if they themselves have not been beaten, they are definitely indirect victims. You may be wondering how PTSD manifests itself in children. As with other health problems (physical or mental), the symptoms are different. The disorders manifest themselves in different ways in children and adults.
In fact , experts observe that children who have experienced abuse at home receive flashbacks of traumatic events. This can happen during play, if something triggers memories of what they have been through. They can suffer from nightmares, flashbacks or dissociation.
Children from this type of home may be reluctant to take responsibility. In other words , they withdraw socially. They may forget skills they had already learned, play less or be less social at all.
Finally , children who have witnessed domestic violence are likely to feel anxious. Therefore, they may have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. They may appear overly alert and often overreact to stimuli.
In summary, it is essential for the well – being of the children to ensure that they receive therapy treatment from a qualified psychologist. Being exposed to indirect abuse can be extremely harmful to children. Let us help them get the help they need to grow and become healthy and happy as adults.
Photos: Peter Foster, Elijah Henderson and Elijah Henderson.
