Affects Of Child Abuse

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COMMON VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS

Used by permission from The Broken Spirits Network

Many victims of abusive relationships tend to develop certain characteristics that can be easily identified, if you know what to look for. These characteristics are often developed by the victim as a way of better coping with the events around them.

AVOIDANCE/LIES:

A strong need to protect the abuser is a big warning sign that there is indeed abuse taking place. As a method of coping, abuse victims avoid or lie about things that revolve around their abuse. Origins of bruises and other injuries are the most common and initial warning sign. Another type of avoidance that takes place is sneaking out, or lying about ones' location, in order to be with their abuser. Often times the abuse victim feels obligated to protect their abuser, and will go out of their way in order to do so. This is the first, and most common characteristic of an abuse victim.

DEPRESSION/LOWERED SELF ESTEEM:

Abuse takes it toll on a body emotionally as well as physically. Over time an abuse victim becomes heavily depressed, often times to the point of considering suicide. The victim also develops such a low level of self-esteem, as to gain and lose weight and change their physical appearance on a frequent basis. This is another very serious characteristic, and if suspected, should receive immediate attention.

More Characteristics of the Child Abuse Survivor

• Changes in behavior at school or at home. (withdrawal, inattentiveness, or other unusual behavior)
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, bed wetting, nightmares)
• Unexplained and sudden fears
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive anger or reckless behavior
• A new reluctance to spend time with certain people
• A need for more reassurance than usual
• Overwhelming knowledge of sexual behavior
• Isolation from friends, limited participation in social activities
• Depression
• Drug or alcohol use
• Chronic running away
• Increase in physical complaints (miscellaneous illnesses)
• Inappropriate attention-getting behavior
• Suicide attempts
• Self inflicted physical abuse (self-mutilation)
• Poor self-esteem
• Problems in school (missing class, grades)
• Prostitution

AFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD (WORD DELETED) ABUSE

Used by permission from www.childlures.com.

Child (Word Deleted) Abuse

A Core Social Problem that Puts Youngsters At Greater Risk for Related Social Problems

Daily, the media reports on an unending litany of health and social problems affecting America's children and youth: drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse, depression, suicide, school drop-out, teen pregnancy, divorce, welfare, homelessness, (word deleted) transmitted diseases, runaways, violent crime and so forth.

While we struggle to combat these persistent health and social ills, they continue to take a heavy toll in terms of human potential and financial resources. The public health factor alone is staggering. The economic toll, in terms of diminished productivity, public assistance, incarceration/probation costs and the like is astronomical. The emotional toll to individuals, families, and society as a whole is simply too vast to imagine.

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