The effects of physical child abuse range from depression to rage. Here's how to survive child abuse - even if you're no longer an abused kid.
"Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime," said Herbert Ward. Though the effects of physical child abuse can extend to adulthood, it doesn’t have to overshadow your dreams and goals.
Effects of Physical Child Abuse
Physical complaints. Some effects of physical child abuse include stomachaches, migraines, gut problems or other physical symptoms not directly caused by the abuse – these are psychosomatic indicators. Abused kids often feel exhausted, starving, or sick most of the time.
Depression. Anger turned inward leads to feelings of depression, and 80% of depressed teenagers don't get help. They're more likely to suffer another bout of depression in their early 20s, and abuse drugs and alcohol (American Psychiatric Association). Abused kids often feel depressed as a result of child abuse.
Rage. Anger not expressed appropriately leaks out in other ways (or stays inside and turns into depression). One possible effect of physical child abuse is passive aggressive behavior. That is, abused kids get back at people indirectly (e.g., burning the pizza when they’re mad that they got slapped last night.) Another effect of physical child abuse is hostility and cynicism.
Isolation. Abused kids are less likely to make friends and more likely to be rejected by their peers (Lowenthal, 1996). An effect of child abuse is skipping school without anybody noticing, stopping eating without anyone caring, or spending time with people doing things better left undone (these can be consequences of neglect).
Dismal future. Abused kids’ health, achievements, and adulthood are affected by sexual and physical child abuse – and not "just" by feelings of low self-worth. Abused kids are more likely to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms of physical child abuse don't end when the bruises fade.
Being abused doesn't mean a child – or adult – will automatically have an unhappy life. It's not the abuse that can ruin everything – it's how individuals deal with problems that make or break their future.
Unhealthy Reactions to Physical Child Abuse:
Cutting to release pain or give you something else to focus on
Running away
Deliberately disobeying parents
Abusing drugs or alcohol
Skipping school
Using sex to feel better or to get back at parents
Stealing, vandalizing, lying, cheating, or gambling
Abusing siblings, friends, peers, or boyfriends/girlfriends
Taking dangerous risks (sex without a condom, drinking and driving)
Attempting suicide
Healthy Ways to Survive Child Abuse:
Talk to a friend
Get counseling
Find a mentor or role model to give you positive support
Call Social Services or Child Protective Services
Start over somewhere new: foster home, relative's home, friend's home. If you need to leave home, do it legitimately with an adult's support. Don't just run away
Call the police if you're in immediate danger
Tell your teacher, school guidance counselor, pastor, friend's parents, a relative – anyone you trust. Tell a neighbor – start telling, and keep telling until you're safe
If you found Effects of Physical Child Abuse helpful, try:
The copyright of the article Physical Effects of Child Abuse in Developmental Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Physical Effects of Child Abuse in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I think people who commit child abuse need to be punished for their
crimes.
patricia
May 15, 2008 9:01 AM
Guest
:
i think if you ause children for whatever reason you should be put in jail.
if you were abused as a kid, then go get help. if you have anger issues
then find a way to channel you anger towards something other than people.
if you are stressed, then try having some fun, have someone watch you kids
and relax. if you are an alcoholic or drug addict, then you should get
some help and/or make sure your kids are in a safe environment. thank you
for your time!
-- anonymous researcher--
Jun 11, 2008 3:25 AM
Guest
:
I was sexually abused as a child by my older brother. I never told anyone.I
felt worthless. He also bullied me and beat me. I felt I was not as good as
the other little girls. I grew up setting very high standards for myself.
When I started dating, I would never let any boy touch me as it was a sign
of "no respect". This was a big part of my way of dealing with
what happened. It was very painful. I got married to a wonderful man and
have two sons. I raised them with pride and dignity and respect. I never
left them with babysitters. I took pleasure in always taking them along
with me. It gave me a feeling of not having to worry about them being hurt
in any way. Yes, it was over protection. I see that now. After 39 1/2 years
of marriage I finally confessed to my husband what happened to me as a
child. He said that he always felt that there was "something". I
confessed what happened to one of my sons because he (as an adult) lied to
me so badly that I wanted him to see how much it hurt me what he did by
lying. That it broke my heart. I over estimated this son. I thought the sun
rose and set on him, that he was so wonderful. He was a phony that just
took advantage of me. Obviously there is a subconsous connection here. I
expected my brother to respect me when I was a child and instead he hurt me
and as an adult, my son hurt me and emotionally took advantage of me. Yes,
I see my scars....the difference is, as a child I was afraid to tell, to
speak up so I kept silent all those years. Now that this has happened, it
caused me to let the flood gates open to my husband especially. It gave me
a good feeling to finally let it out and tell. With my son, I'm not
holding back; I'm dealing with it; I'm telling him that he's a liar, that I
don't respect that and that he has to deal with the truth. That he is
making terrible mistakes, that deep down he knows it and that he is only
lying to himself. This time, I'M not taking it and keeping quiet, I'm
standing up for myself and telling it like it is. I hope this helps
someone out there. If it means anything: to live through what happened to
me, was horrible. It made me always feel sad and inferior. Let me tell you
something. I learned that I am special to have lived through it and made
something of myself regardless. I'm better than most people out there. I'm
sensitive to others, I care about people and I never let it pull me down
because I knew that someday I would get away from him and be something. wj
Sep 1, 2008 1:58 PM
Guest
:
I wish people didn't hurt other people......
Sep 25, 2008 8:00 AM
Guest
:
i think some people just dont know the difference between right and
wrong.
Oct 7, 2008 6:48 PM
Guest
:
Child Sex Abusers do know right from wrong. There are some sick
individuals. Because of being molested I turned to drugs to block out
feelings. I know now that that was wrong for me. The two people who
molested me or at least one of those people I know there was no history of
molestation. So what was his excuse? The other was an old perverted man.
Being molested has really put a damper in my relationship (s). I have
gone from one extreme to the other from gaining weight, to drugs, to
blocking out people who I do not want to get close to me in being afraid of
getting hurt, to having flash backs to not sleep well at nights.
RC
Nov 1, 2008 3:41 AM
Guest
:
I think parents should take care of their children. They should watch their
activities. They should motivate their children if they think that their
child is suitable for some special task. Espcially in the society where
there are dozens of mentally abnormal people are present (apprently normal)
we should take care of gorwing children. This doesnt mean that we push our
children to live same like us, obviously every one sees the life with ones
own point of view. But, the olders can help the youngs to enhance their
views. Its quite hard for me to write on this topic as psychology isnt
my subject but still as a human being I can understand the common problems
around us those can be injurious to anybody physically or mentally. I would
request to the poerson concerned that they should request to UNO to help
the countries in third world to establish mental health care units in the
cities. Because, lack of counselling in the third world creates alot of
painful stories. Muqarrab Qayyum, Ghour Ghushti, Pakistan
Nov 19, 2008 7:48 AM
Guest
:
I am doing my senior project on the effects of child abuse and neglect and
I personally despise anyone who has the audacity to hurt an innocent child
Jan 12, 2009 8:15 PM
Guest
:
I'm doing some assignment about this topic.I think people should treat
children very nice and not harm them either physical or emotional.let them
had a wonderful life just like what we had in our childhood.peace on
earth
Jan 14, 2009 12:07 PM
Guest
:
Guest: I am doing a research paper for an english class over child
abuse and some of the things i have read are very depressing. some of the
things this kids go through are sad and i dont see why anyone would do this
to and innocent child that cant protect themselve.
Feb 16, 2009 11:42 AM
Guest
:
i think parents that are the abuser are sick and dont need to have thier
kids in that enviroment. no kid will ever thank you in the long run your
just making there life a living hell. if parents of any family member
thinks by hitting there children or their loved ones is going to teach them
a lesson or your way mistakened and really need help!I think any abuse
coming from any one in any way should get punished.
Feb 18, 2009 9:14 PM
Guest
:
Guest. Enjoyed reading the article and learning about the after
effects of childhood abuse. My parents were very hard working, but young
and very overwhelmed. My mother came from an abusive background, my father
from an impoverished background. From the time I could understand words, I
was told I was stupid, lazy, worthless and most of all a girl. My parents
didn't like girls they wanted only boys. My mother use to tell me the one,
sure way, to ruin my life would be to have children. She often said by
choosing to have children she had ruined everything in her life. My
parents beat me and my siblings. We were so scared of them, we would look
around quickly before sitting in chair to watch TV. To make matters worse,
I was small for my age, had horribly crooked teeth and lived in a community
where only beauty and living on the "right side of the tracks"
mattered. Unfortunately, as I showed up to school trembling and scared.
No one noticed, with the exception of one teacher who had noticed the
shaking my hands. She gave me a scathing look and did nothing about it. Not
one teacher,councilor, neighbor, relative, or clergy did one thing to help
me or my siblings. We had no where to turn. It was all swept under the
rug. So, I was in my 30's before I realized I had truly been abused.
Totally in denial. Then I met my current husband during my thirties, and he
truly became my loving, encouraging angel I had looked for all those years.
For the first time in my life, I stopped trembling. I am in my fifties now
and have spent a life time looking for that ego (soul) that was pulled from
me all those years ago. Maintaining daily self-esteem is very difficult
for me. I never had those children. I just couldn't. I couldn't bear the
thought of bringing a child into this world, who could even, for a second,
think they were unwanted. It still haunts me to this day. I am still
hoping one day I can recapture a bit of joy,before I leave this earth, but
it is very, very hard when so much of your spirit was removed by age 5.
Thanks for reading, anonymous
Feb 21, 2009 7:24 PM
Guest
:
I was abused as a child by my father until I was 16 years old. He never
said anything nice to me and constantly beat me over little things.
Sometimes I used to get beaten without knowing "why". The only
reason the abuse stopped was bcause he was diagnosed with cancer and died.
I never told anyone and I am now 33 years old, but I am starting to
understand the bad effects of it. If you are a parent who is watching the
other parent abusing your children........please stop them. There are
enough problems in the world, don't create more for your children.
Mar 4, 2009 4:12 PM
Guest
:
Those children are angels and they are who colour our lives. So why those
children get abused by any means. Well, when I got a work depression just a
look in my daughter's eyes will relieve all this depression. I don't know
how could those sick people admit such a harmful and not-acceptable
action, sometime I said to myself that who admit this is not a human, even
animals do not do it.
Be happy if you got one of these
angels, B.S.H
Mar 17, 2009 2:13 AM
Guest
:
i think child abuse is just wrong why do people even want to hit their
children or people who they know. i just think it is plain wrong people shouldnt have to hit their children. as the children get
older and have their own kids they might do the same because of the
childhood they have had.
sahira
Mar 19, 2009 10:43 AM
Guest
:
I am currently doing an I-search paper on child abuse. I would like to
interview someone who is a previous victim of child abuse. I was wondering
if anyone on this site would like to be one of my interviewiees. If so,
please past back on this site and maybe I could get more information to
contact you with my questions. Thanks for your time! Abby
Mar 19, 2009 11:02 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
Hi Abby,
When I was a teacher, I assigned I-Searches every
spring! They can be fun. If you've never heard of an I-Search, it's a
research paper that involves more than simple research from books and
encyclopedias.
Regarding an interview with someone who has
suffered the effects of physical child abuse: Suite101 doesn't allow email
addresses or website links to be posted here in the comments. However, if
you're willing to participate in Abby's project, please email me via my
name at the top of this page.
Abby, if you also send me your
email address (through my name at the top), I'll forward you information of
people who are willing to speak about the effects of child abuse.
All best, Laurie
Mar 27, 2009 9:16 PM
Guest
:
It's so sad how some individuals don't have hearts, it's sickening to my
stomach how people can abuse childs...innocent kids that dont have a clue
about searious life, and just want to play and enjoy their childhood...
Mar 30, 2009 12:12 PM
Guest
:
i believe everything the "anonymous researcher" said is easier
said than done. they have obviously never been in an abusive relationship
or been the victim of abuse. People that are depressed from abuse don't
usually have the energy to spontaneously just "go have fun". but
its a nice thought. Most any alcoholic or drug addict only cares about
their next fix and not about a safe environment. I think that you should
continue further with your research and maybe take a few classes on social
problems and family oriented classes. That was a very preachy and single
minded way to approach the subject and not very sympathetic.
Apr 5, 2009 8:01 PM
Guest
:
every child abuser has suffered in there past life. that's why they
become what is called a child abuser.its not there fault but they know they
can prevent what they are doing. since nobody is watching what they are
doing to their kids he is not getting advice at all. if the child is to
report what is going on they would help the child by giving them a better
life, but that the reason why kids dont tell others. because they love
their parents so they want to stick with them. they just wish they would
change. that is the mistake kids do! if they where to tell someone they
could get help for their parents without getting split from them. but that
is the hard part for a child to take responsible as an adult and speak. why
not ? because he is a CHILD. i do not think there will be a stop to this
unless they announce it to the public and tell children who are going
through this to speak up and guarantee they wont be split from them but
help them out.!!!
Apr 8, 2009 6:10 PM
Guest
:
I agree that child abuse is very sick. I personally have not been a victim
of abuse, but my best friend in the world is currently. I never knew this
until a week or two ago and when she told me, it made me sick. I knew her
parents drank and had past drug problems, but when she said that her and
them got in fights a lot i didn't realize what she meant. My thoughts were
that they just didn't get along but i was way off. She told me that they
would get in fist fights and her mom would throw beer bottles at her. There
are broken portions on her bedroom walls where her head and back have hit
it. If you met her, there is no way that you could stay mad at her for more
than a few seconds. She has the sweetest smile and the most fun attitude of
anyone I have ever met. It kills me to know that someone in her life could
treat her so badly and the next minute act like they haven't done anything.
It's so sad to hear her talk about it that when i go home i barely sleep
because i just lay there thinking about how i could possibly help. It was
her birthday today and she didn't even want to go home. She hates them so
much, but when i tell her that what they do isn't normal she says that
she's so used to it that it IS normal to her. When she said that i just
wanted to take her away from there. I just don't know what to do.
Anonymous.
Male. 15 yo.
Apr 9, 2009 6:14 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
I'm sorry for your best friend's situation -- it sounds frightening and
awful.
To help her, you need to involve adults. I suggest
calling a child abuse hotline or distress center, and asking for their
advice. I don't know where you are or what help is available, so I'm not in
a position to advise you.....but I do know that telling as many adults as
possible is an effective way to deal with child abuse.
Running
away may seem like a good idea, but it may put her in a bad position in the
long run. Getting support from adults who've dealt with this before is a
better option.
To be a good friend, you could also ask her what
she needs from you. You may not be able to fulfill every need -- especially
if she says she needs something that's not good for her -- but she may be
able to tell you how you can help her.
Sometimes children and
partners have a hard time leaving abusive homes. It's a complicated
situation, and requires an experienced adult to help untangle the emotions
and behaviors!
Let me know what you decide to do -- and it's
great to see that she has someone in her life that cares for her so much!
Sometimes that's all you can do.
Warm wishes, Laurie
Apr 11, 2009 1:44 AM
Guest
:
Its not allowed, yet people still do it. What makes me even more mad is the
fact that these people have children and abuse them in horrific ways. I
think its digusting. Don't they have any feelings whatso ever for THEIR OWN
CHILDREN.?
May 26, 2009 8:47 PM
Guest
:
I love how these articles always talk about the immediate effects of child
abuse, such as skipping school, smoking cigarettes, and having lots of sex,
but it doesn't seem like many authors like to take on what happens to these
people when they get older. What about those 30 yr olds who were abused?
Abused children don't disapear at age 18. They become adults, and there are
real serious problems that happen after 18. I believe the problems of
abused teenagers are tiny compared to what they will face down the road
when they are in their 30s.
May 27, 2009 5:59 PM
Guest
:
I think people who abuses any child is sick and should be punished for
their actions
Jun 2, 2009 8:20 AM
Guest
:
K:
I experinced physical, emotional, and mental abuse for 13
years of my life. The first time my dad beat me was when i was 4 years old.
I was supposed to been watching my sister, but I wanted to play myself, si
I forgot about that part and started playin myself and she got dirt in her
hair and I recieced a beating of a lifetime the night. I got whipped with a
extension cord, hit with a broom, kicked in the back with a size 12 shoe,
and literally threw into a bathe tube. That night I suffered so much and I
still cry to this day whenever I think about it. My teacher saw all the red
marks and whips on my arns the next day and called DHS and when my dad
tried to get me from school my teacer wouldn't let him, he got real mad. On
down the line more abuse came and more heartache and pain came along. I
felt worthless and useless. i lost my childhood at 10 because I had to be a
mom to my two sisters. I tried to kill myself on 3 of 4 occasions and got
tossed out my house so many times it isn't funny, but I have came along way
and became a stronger person. I dislike any human that treats a child in
such a harsh manner because they have feelings and emotionsd that may come
back to get their abusers in the end. Trust me because I have an attitude
that scares the heck out my dad towards him.
Sincerely form the
heart. Kela
Jun 26, 2009 3:03 PM
Guest
:
I was abused as a child... Beaten, kicked, punched and even stabbed by my
mother. Not only was it extremely physical, but it was emotional. She told
me daily that I was not wanted... and that she hated me, even. I was
neglected, starved and ignored. It was so sad to be me. Now, as an
adult - I have severe anxiety issues and have stomach problems where even
the tiniest bit of stress causes me to throw up and it seems as the years
pass - it gets worse and worse... I pray for anyone going through
this... It's horrible. I am blessed to still be alive...
Jun 29, 2009 2:05 PM
Guest
:
I have a daugther and i swear if anybody every hurt her i would be on my
way to prison.... i think that people who commit crimes of that nature
should never be given a second chance. i also don't think that they can be
cured.
Nov 17, 2007
