Child abuse is a topic that not many feel comfortable discussing. It goes to reason then, that the abuse one has faced during their childhood is a topic that is also rarely discussed. When a person brings up the situations in which they had been abused as a child, many people will uncomfortably change the subject while giving their condolences. However, childhood abuse can greatly affect future of the adults who have suffered it. Abuse is defined by the Oxford Dictionary (2017) as: cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal. There are three main types of abuse: physical abuse which involves physically harming, psychological abuse which involves verbal abuse (threats, insults, refusal to communicate, etc.) and an array of other acts, …show more content…
(Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2017) This does not account for the countless children who faced multiple types of abuse or the hundreds of incidents that were not recorded.
Because of this abuse, those children are now at risk for mental health issues as adults. Multiple sources conclude that childhood psychological abuse is one of the causes for adult mental illnesses such as: anxiety in its many forms, depression, dissociative disorders, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts or actions. (Elish, 2006; Health Direct, 2017; Hunter, 2014) Along with these mental illnesses, adults with a past of psychological abuse are also at risk to become overly critical of themselves, have low self-esteem, and to develop an eating disorder such as bulimia, anorexia, or obesity. These illnesses could go undiagnosed or they could be recognized by those who suffer them and treated. Undiagnosed mental illnesses have the power to wreak havoc on the person suffering and those close to him or her. When paired with one another, these issues make a deadly cocktail.
There is also an array of physical illnesses that adults can experience as a direct or indirect result of psychological abuse. These adults may find that they develop insomnia, migraines, stomach ulcers, indigestion, and other health issues that occur as a result of substance abuse problems and sexually risky behaviors because of the abuse they faced as a child or adolescent.
Depression and anxiety, for example, may make a person more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol or drugs, or overeat. High-risk behaviors, in turn, can lead to long-term physical health problems, such as sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, and obesity. Not all children who have been abused or neglected will experience long-term consequences, but they may have an increased susceptibility. The immediate physical effects of abuse or neglect can be relatively minor (bruises or cuts) or severe (broken bones, hemorrhage, or even death). In some cases, the physical effects are temporary; however, the pain and suffering they cause a child should not be discounted. Child abuse and neglect can have a multitude of long-term effects on physical health. NSCAW researchers found that, at some point during the 3 years following a maltreatment investigation, 28 percent of children had a chronic health condition (Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation [ACF/OPRE], 2007). Below are some outcomes other researchers have identified: Impaired brain development. Child abuse and neglect have been shown to cause important regions of the brain to fail to form or grow properly, resulting in impaired development. These alterations in brain maturation have long-term consequences for cognitive, language, and academic abilities and are connected with mental health disorders (Tarullo,
People need to be more aware about child abuse. Child abuse is a terrible thing to do to children. Child abuse is when a parent whether through action or failing to act, injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many types of abuses. There are physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Physical abuse is making contact with the child. Sexual abuse is when a child is used for sexual acts or sexual purposes. Emotional abuse is when a child is affected by mental and by emotions. Each abuse as a percentage that was been reported. For physical abuse is 28.6% of adults report being physically abused as a child. Sexual abuse 20.7% of adults report being sexually abused as a child. Emotional abuse 10.6% of adults report being emotionally abused as a child.
Childhood trauma contributes to the development of disorders later in life. Several psychological disorders may be caused by childhood trauma. These disorders may include: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, addiction, borderline personality disorder, and dissociative identity disorder.
“Child abuse can affect the child physically, psychologically, behaviorally, and on some conditions can affect the children in all three ways. ”(Child welfare information gateway) “Young adults who have been abused have experienced many problems after including, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even suicide attempts. ”(Child welfare information gateway) There are many long term effects that victims can have these also include low self-esteem, depression, and relationship difficulties. “Not all victims of child abuse will experience behavioral or emotional consequences, but they will definitely appear to be more likely among this group.
There are many people who are abused when they are children but we don’t think about how this affects the abused when they are adults. Abuse comes in many forms; physical, verbal, and emotional. Abuse can scar a person mentally and emotionally for the rest of their life. People that have been abused often have to resort to therapy to deal with the demons of their past. How does this mentally affect people who were abused as children?
Many adults seeking mental health services report a history of child abuse, particularly neglect, physical and sexual abuse (Courtois & Bloom, 2000). Studies have found that the percentage of individuals using mental health services reporting child sexual abuse ranges from 12 – 50% (Wurr & Partridge, 1996), and those reporting child physical abuse ranges from 10 – 57% (Brown & Anderson, 1991; Goodman et al., 2001). Researchers have argued recently, however, that these figures may be unrealistically low due to underreporting (Harper, et al., 2008). Borger, Cox, and Asmundson (2005) found that almost 76% of adults reporting child physical abuse and neglect had at least one psychiatric disorder in their lifetime and nearly 50% had three or more psychiatric disorders. Research indicates that adults with histories of childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse frequently present with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders that result in a need for specialized treatment oriented to their trauma experience (Harper et al., 2008).
Dr. Nadine Burks Harris talks about the Adverse Childhood Experiences study during her lecture. What has been discovered is that those who have suffered from childhood trauma have a greater chance of developing health complications versus those who have not been exposed to trauma. In the Adverse Childhood Experiences study was conducted by Dr. Vince Felitti at Kaiser and Dr. Bob Anda and the CDC, together they asked 17,500 adults about their history of exposure to adverse childhood experiences (Harris). Experiences meaning: sexual, physical, emotional abuse, physical or emotional neglect, parental mental illness, substance dependence, incarceration, parental separation or divorce. For every yes they answered
In fact adult survivors of child abuse can struggle with unexplained anxiety, depression, or anger (Saison). Some of these adults will turn to various illegal actions, such as: stealing, violence to the public, and drinking under the influence to try to numb their pain.
The pervasiveness of these correlations is high and suggesting childhood trauma could play a major role in the psychological health of a person later in adulthood, and there have many studies which have been conducted that could support these theories.
In her article "A survivor's story" Angela Goodwin-Slater (2013) claims that the effect of child abuse on her was mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, low self-esteem and possible tendencies of being a child abuser.
During young adult (age twenty to forty years) there is a peak in physical capabilities (strength, coordination, and reaction time), brain function continues to grow, stress can be a health threat (Feldman, 2011). Depending on the age the abuse occurs can affect each individual’s cognitive development to include but not limited to disorders like depression, anxiety, learning and memory disorders, PTSD, and attachment disorders.
If a survivor of child sexual abuse has not been in therapy or been helped along the way to cope with their abuse history, there is a range of effects that stem from the abuse. Depending upon each individual survivor’s trauma history, different mental illnesses can manifest. The mental illnesses could range from anxiety to personality disorders depending on factors such as severity and frequency of abuse.
Also, a core feeling of “worthlessness” because they were repeatedly told that they are stupid or no good, in adulthood, they begin neglecting their education, and settle for lower paying jobs because they think they aren’t worth more. They also have trouble regulating their feelings. Often coming out in unexpected ways because. As adults, the abused, struggle with unexplained anxiety, depression, and anger. The depression can ultimately end in suicide (www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm).
A study was done with children who experienced abuse as a child and it was shown that they had an increased risk of major depressive
The longer the child goes without help, the more serious their problems can get. As said earlier, childhood is an incredibly important period in one’s life, shaping and forming the identity of the person. When sexual abuse comes into play, a variety of different symptoms develop starting the gradual change in identity of the child. Depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PSD), and over sexualized behavior can be immediate signs pointing to sexual abuse (11)(2)(7). These mental symptoms are terrible for children and can often lead into many other symptoms stemming from the list