By Books Author Denise Turney
Left untreated, effects from an abusive childhood endure. Child abuse appears in different forms. However, physical abuse may be the more widely considered form. Yet, as horrible as physical abuse is, emotional and psychological abuse, including neglect, leave deep, long lasting scars. The trauma is so pervasive that it’s been reported that child abuse actually alters a person’s DNA.
Facing an Abusive Childhood
In fact, Reuters reports that, “Trauma has lasting effects on mental and physical health that may stem from changes to DNA which undermine a person’s ability to rebound from stress, according to new research.” Recent studies on child abuse, like the study conducted by Seth Pollak that’s referenced by Reuters, shed more light on child abuse’s far reaching effects.
Unfortunately, child abuse still doesn’t get the attention that it needs to encourage the right consistent action that’s required to ensure no child is ever abused again. Will people care more about child abuse, report it each time they witness it or have suspicion that it’s occurring, after they become aware of the long-lasting harm of an abusive childhood?
Whether increased awareness will yield permanently good results, saving the lives of countless children, or not is yet to be seen. Right now, these stats are severely troubling. Each day about five children dies from child abuse, according to DoSomething. As many as 68% of children who are sexually abused are abused by a relative. Nearly three million child abuse cases are reported in the United States alone each year.
More Disturbing Child Abuse Stats
Even more, about 70% of children who die daily from child abuse in the United States is younger than three years old. One can only presume how many actual child abuse cases there are, considering cases that are never reported.
Among the deep, jarring hidden wounds of child abuse are genetic brain changes, stress, insomnia, constant feelings of being inadequate, low self-esteem, lack of confidence and ongoing fear. Painful shame, guilt and difficulties forming and maintaining healthy relationships are other hidden wounds of child abuse that time does not heal.
Fact is, it can take years of deep, focused inner work to begin to heal from child abuse. As an adult, people who were abused as a child may smile, laugh and communicate as if there had been absolutely no abuse during their early childhood.
Signs of Child Abuse
But, blending in doesn’t mean that the wounds aren’t there. To recover and learn to love yourself, psychotherapy, meditation, journaling and ongoing efforts at self-care and self-love may be required. Healing also comes through safe relationships like genuine friendships.
The sooner child abuse is spotted, reported, stopped and a child entered into safe places to begin to heal, the better. But, even then, there will be work for the child to do in order to heal.
Child abuse signs include:
- Child being overly withdrawn
- Terrified or extremely afraid of making a mistake
- Unexplained injuries and bruises
- Repeatedly flinching when someone simply raises her hand
- Wears long sleeved shirts and long pants during summer to hide injuries
- Difficulty sitting
- Age-inappropriate sexual knowledge
- Efforts to avoid a specific person
- Misses school frequently
- Self-harm
Few, if any, long to look upon the ugly part of humanity. But look we must. To stop child abuse, we also must act, reporting instances of this vicious crime. We must be there for children and adults healing from abuse, even if, at the very least, we meet children and suffering adults with sincere kindness and ample patience to give the abused time and room to adjust to a new, better life.
Offering encouragement – Love Pour Over Me – the story of a man raised by a father with untreated alcoholism. An inspirational love story written to help readers heal.
