Secure attachment in childhood nurtures social competence. When circumstances prevent a child from forming attachments, they are often withdrawn, frightened or even speechless. These affects can last into adulthood. Serious emotion scars will be present for the remainder of their life.
This is often the case with abused children, such as those who have been raised in a home or location where there is little stimulation and attention from their primary caregiver. In worse situations it may be actual extreme neglect and emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
Often into adulthood the emotional scars represent themselves in either fear or aggression. It often causes issues with partnering. Some abuse victims who have children will often feel neglectful and/or abusive to their young.
The unloved become unloving. Most parents, who have abused their children, will admit to being abused themselves. Many inmates convicted of violent crimes or murder will also confess to being abused in childhood.
Does this mean that today's victim is tomorrow's victimizer? No, it is not always that. As a matter of fact, if the abuse was isolated to early childhood, children who are abused are more likely to not become abusive or turn into violent criminals. They have the opportunity to become normal adults. However, treatment of emotional scars is necessary and the isolation from the abuse must take place in early years. The older the child is when being abused, the longer it will take to recover… possibly causing issues in adulthood.
Young children who are terrorized by physical abuse often suffer from symptoms such as nightmares, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse or aggression. Sexual abuse if severe and prolonged, place children at risk for health problems, psychological disorders substance abuse and criminality.
Children are generally very resilient, however when extreme childhood trauma is experienced, permanent footprints can be left on the brain. When repeatedly threatened, causing a fear response in the body, the brain chemical of serotonin (which calms aggressive impulses) is made sluggish. The brain literally produces less natural aggression calming chemicals from repeated fear experiences. This is what causes aggressive teens and/or adults.
"Stress can set off a ripple of hormonal changes that permanently wire a child's brain to cope with a wicked world," said researcher Martin Teicher (2002).
Psychological research shows that twins (with the same genes, same parents, and same habitat) will grow up substantially different if one is abused and one is not. The twin, who has suffered sexual abuse including intercourse, has greater risk of depression, anxiety and substance abuse than their twin.
Although child abuse increases the risk of depression, many abused people do not suffer from depression and most depressed people have not been sexually abused.
There is a chance for a normal life for those who have abused as children or adults, but you must act now!! Take the steps needed to improve the life of someone abused now… you might be their only chance at living unaffected.
REFERENCES
Myers, David G. Psychology: 8th Edition in Modules
