The scars of emotional abuse, unlike physical abuse, aren't visible. However, mistreatment during childhood has many adverse effects on the child. Read on to know more about this
Sanjana doesn't behave like an average 8-year-old. She is very withdrawn, extremely quiet, is easily intimidated, and even seems anxious at times. She prefers to sit by herself rather than talk and play with her friends. What could be the reason for her displaying such behaviour? One of the most likely causes is emotional abuse.
Every child yearns to be loved, wanted and valued. These natural human needs should be catered to for a child to develop into a healthy and functioning adult. Depriving a child of these fundamental requisites constitutes emotional abuse.
Although very common, emotional abuse, somehow, often goes unnoticed. Usually, emotional abuse is perpetrated through verbal abuse where the child is frequently admonished, chastised, reprimanded, degraded and terrorised for no fault of his. This results in the child's sense of worth taking a beating. Sometimes the child is also subjected to humiliation, labelling and name-calling, in public.
At times, emotional abuse even involves a child being isolated, ignored or even explicitly rejected. Parents who emotionally abuse usually have unrealistic expectations from their child and even threaten him with physical harm.
The immediate effects of emotional abuse are not always clearly visible, but grow clearer as the child grows older. These effects present as both physical signs and behaviour patterns. Emotional abuse in a child may manifest as:
Longer-term consequences can include the child developing personality disorder (PD), addiction, and facing difficulty in making or maintaining relationships. Individuals with a history of emotional abuse are also more likely to suffer from mental health problems and be prone to committing suicide. Furthermore, children who are emotionally abused and have not received help can become perpetrators of abuse themselves. A child who is emotionally abused is also likely to be a victim of other forms of abuse.
Unfortunately, in most cases, the perpetrator of emotional abuse is either the parent or the caregiver. But, what causes them to become a perpetrator of emotional abuse? Here are a few likely reasons:
A child who has been emotionally abused can suffer severe adverse effects, which are sure to manifest as she grows older. Therefore, one must tread with caution when dealing with such a child. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with an emotionally abused child:
While appropriate professional help and guidance will allow the child to deal with the effects of the abuse, remember that healing is a slow process that will happen over time. Besides helping the child deal with the abuse, he should also be guided on how to move forward, such as making friends, focusing on academics, and even pursuing a few hobbies. A supportive and nurturing environment with a responsible adult can augment the healing process and buffer the effects of emotional abuse that the child has experienced.
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