Affects Of Child Abuse

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"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7

This section looks at some of the long-term affects of child abuse. A common feeling among abuse survivors is that "that was then and it doesn't have anymore affect on my life." Hopefully the information in this section can make you more aware of the long-term dangers to your child if he/she has been abused. Also it may help you recognize that these behaviors and problems are not always the result of deliberate rebellion or willful wickedness but can be symptoms of buried abuse in someone's past. This fact does not excuse the choices people make but can make us more understanding and give us a more powerful grasp on how to pray for and work with someone demonstrating these behaviors.

There is also the possibility that the information in this section can make you aware of the affects of your own background of abuse. Many people tend to think that their past was "normal" when in fact it was abusive. But we can easily think that if we weren't beaten with a baseball bat by a drunken father and dragged around the house by our hair then we weren't abused. Abuse takes many forms. And every form of abuse has devastating and life-long consequences if not addressed with the truth. -- Danette Tucker

"…a broken spirit drieth the bones." Prov. 17:22

The Emotional Toll To The Victim:
Used by permission from the Broken Spirits Network, emphasis added.

"Abuse takes its toll on a body emotionally as well as physically."

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by a traumatic event that is beyond the levels of human experience, such a witnessing a brutal crime, combat in war, or being the victim of a sexual assault or abusive relationship.

Post traumatic stress disorder can occur at any age. Symptoms may be mild or severe, anywhere from mild symptoms, to inability to function in normal life. It is also unknown why some people are more likely to have worse symptoms, but it can be connected to the level of trauma the person had experienced.

The following is a list of common symptoms connected to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Not every symptom applies to everyone, and not all possible symptoms are listed here. If you or someone you know, is a possible sufferer of PTSD, seek the advice of a medical professional. Studies show that the earlier the disorder is spotted, the easier is it to successfully treat.

SYMPTOMS OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Frequent Memories Of The Stressful Event: Whatever the source of the problem, some people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections during the day. Seeing things that are a reminder of the incident may be very distressing, which could lead to avoidance of certain places or situations that bring back those memories. Anniversaries of the event are often very difficult. Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashbacks or intrusive images. A flashback may make the person lose touch with reality and reenact the event for a period of seconds or hours or, very rarely, days. A person having a flashback, which can come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, usually believes that the traumatic event is happening all over again.

Extreme Depression: depression, to the point of considering suicide, is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD, and also one of the most serious. Depression, at any level, is something that should be taken seriously. A medical professional should be seen as soon as possible if the depression begins to increase in intensity, or remains for long periods at a time.

Sleep Disturbances: Examples of sleeping disorders include: sleeping constantly or insomnia and frequent nightmares.

Extreme Sensitivity To Noises (Causing The Startle Reflex): After a traumatic event, the body maintains an enhanced fight-or-flight reflex, causing the body to respond to loud or sudden noises.

A Generalized Fear Of Others/Paranoia: A person suffering from PTSD will be very likely to shrink and cower when faced with new people, and quite often with people already known. Fear of a re-occurrence of the traumatic event is possibly the reasoning for this behavior.

Other Symptoms Include: emotional numbness, severe mood swings, marital or dating problems, inability to perform sexually, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, immune system problems, dizziness, chest pain, or discomfort in other parts of the body. Often, doctors treat the symptoms without being aware that they are caused from PTSD. When PTSD is diagnosed, referral to a mental health professional who has had experience treating people with the disorder is recommended.

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