Kids all around the world experience abuse. They face it from day to day — not all kids have a sweet friendly life. Child abuse is overlooked by some because everyone has their own opinion on what child abuse is.
Types of abuse include physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. Part of the challenge is that it can be hard for kids to ask for help. For example, if a kid tried to call someone, they might get abused worse by their guardian. Although the incidence of child abuse and neglect has been decreasing, at least 678,000 children in the United States were abused in 2018, according to the Children’s Bureau. Child abuse happens everywhere from wealthy families to poor. It can occur in any race or religion.
According to Healthy Place, the largest consumer mental health site, some of the long-lasting effects of abuse are eating disorders, anti-social behavior, apathy and lethargy, depression, and sometimes even attention problems. As you can see, it's not something kids should be going through. Kids can become very anxious and fearful, and it can also be hard for them to express their emotions. They won't have the sweet, loving life of a kid. Instead, they will be traumatized.
Imagine being hit or touched in a way you don’t like. Imagine having to relive that day or year or even having to experience it now. Not only do these experiences have an impact in the moment, but those effects often stay with children who are abused.
In school, children are often asked to put on a pretty face to show nothing is wrong. While with friends, they may not be able to have the fun they would like to have. School can actually be a triggering space for many kids because their peers don't really know what personal space is. For children who have experienced abuse, their tolerance for touching is often very limited.
Furthermore, trauma can negatively impact social life as well. When a student’s friends talk about their lives, it’s often difficult for students who have experienced abuse to just open up. Many kids find it hard to form long-lasting and real relationships. They tend to struggle to trust people in ways that may seem easy to others.
Across the nation, child abuse is a vast issue and many kids are affected by this issue. Depression, PTSD, concentration difficulties and many other conditions can be caused by trauma. The youth are stripped away from the childhood that they thought they’d have. Instead, they are terrified of the ones that are supposed to give them that security and warmth. Without addressing this it will become more of a problem than it already is. Stop abusing your children, stop making their self-esteem and confidence dissolve into nothing but ash. Love your children whom you swore you’d protect and love unconditionally.