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How does abuse affect a person in adulthood?
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It is very common for children to suffer emotional and physical abuse at home. Most often, the abuser is a parent. In fact, one study shows that about half of abused children grow up to become abusers themselves.
Emotional abuse includes verbal attacks, insults, threats, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, and control. Physical abuse includes hitting, kicking, punching, shoving, burning, choking, biting, scratching, pinching, hair pulling, slapping, shaking, throwing objects, and threatening suicide.
Physical abuse may lead to injuries such as bruises, cuts, broken bones, burns, and internal bleeding. Emotional abuse may cause depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts.
If you are being emotionally abused, you might feel sad, angry, hurt, confused, guilty, ashamed, afraid, lonely, hopeless, helpless, worthless, and depressed.
You may also feel numb, detached, isolated, and disconnected. Your emotions may change quickly. You might feel anxious, nervous, irritable, restless, and fearful.
Children who are physically abused may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems. They may also have trouble sleeping, eating, concentrating, and making decisions.
Some survivors report feeling like a victim or perpetrator. Children who were victims may blame themselves for what happened. Those who were perpetrators may feel guilt or shame.
For adults, psychological abuse involves controlling behavior. It includes criticism, blaming, putting down, shaming, belittling, intimidating, ignoring, isolating, humiliating, and threatening to harm yourself or others.
Psychological abuse may include constant nagging, yelling, name-calling, criticizing, insulting, and bullying. It may involve lying, manipulating, and gaslighting.
When you are psychologically abused, you may feel sad, angry, frustrated, hurt, rejected, abandoned, frightened, and alone. You may also feel numb, disconnected, and distant.
Survivors of childhood abuse may struggle with trust issues, difficulty expressing anger, and poor impulse control. They may feel overwhelmed, guilty, and ashamed.
Mental Health
Abuse affects everyone differently. Some people suffer severe emotional damage, others experience minor effects, and some people bounce back quickly.
However, most people who were abused as children continue to struggle with mental health issues throughout their lives. These include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm, suicide attempts, and many other problems.
If you’re struggling with any of these issues yourself, please seek professional help. There are resources available to help you overcome these challenges.
Physical Health
Abuse can cause physical health problems, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions can lead to serious medical issues, including heart disease, cancer, and suicide.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek help from a professional.
Social Life
Abuse affects everyone differently. Some people suffer from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Others develop eating disorders or substance abuse problems. Still others become depressed because they feel guilty or ashamed.
Regardless of whether you’re dealing with physical or emotional abuse, there are some things you can do to help yourself heal. Here are three ways to cope with abuse:
1) Seek professional counseling. This may be hard to find, especially if you live far away from where the abuse occurred. But finding a counselor who specializes in helping victims of domestic violence can be helpful.
2) Find support groups. There are many online resources available to help you deal with abuse. These include websites, blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter feeds.
3) Talk to friends and family. They can offer encouragement and understanding. And they can help you figure out when you need to seek professional help.
If you’re suffering from any type of abuse, please reach out to someone you trust. The sooner you talk to someone, the better off you’ll be.
Putting all together
Abuse has many negative effects on a person’s life. The most important thing to remember when dealing with someone who was abused is to take care of yourself first.