HIDDEN SCARS (Article: child Abuse)

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL ABUSE ?

Emotional abuse of a child is commonly defined as a pattern of behavior by parents or caregivers that can seriously interfere with a child’s cognitive, emotional, psychological

or social development. Emotional abuse of a child — also referred to as psychological maltreatment — can include:

Rejecting- This is an active refusal to respond to a child’s needs (e.g., refusing to touch a child, denying the needs of a child, ridiculing a child).

Verbally assaulting- This involves constantly belittling, shaming, ridiculing or verbally threatening the child.

Ignoring-  Either physically or psychologically, the parent or caregiver is not present to respond to the child. He or she may not look at the child and may not call the child by name.

Terrorizing- Here, the parent or caregiver threatens or bullies the child and creates a climate of fear for the child. 

Neglecting the child- This abuse may include educational neglect, where a parent or caregiver fails or refuses to provide the child with necessary educational services; mental health neglect, where the parent or caregiver denies or ignores a child’s need for treatment for psychological problems; or medical neglect, where a parent or caregiver denies or ignores a child’s need for treatment for medical problems.

While the definition of emotional abuse is often complex and imprecise, professionals agree that, for most parents, occasional negative attitudes or actions are not considered emotional abuse. 

Why Does It Happen?

Emotional abuse can, and does, happen in all types of families, regardless of their background. Most parents want the best for their children.

 However, some parents may emotionally and psychologically harm their children because of stress, poor parenting skills, social isolation, lack of available resources or inappropriate expectations of their children. They may emotionally abuse their children because the parents or caregivers were emotionally abused themselves as children.

What Are the Effects of Emotional Abuse?

 The visible signs of emotional abuse in children can be difficult to detect, the hidden scars of this type of abuse manifest in numerous behavioral ways, including insecurity, poor self-esteem,destructive behavior, angry acts (such as fire setting and animal cruelty), withdrawal, poor development of basic skills, alcohol or drug abuse, suicide, difficulty forming relationships and unstable job histories.

(Emotionally abused children often grow up thinking that they are deficient in some way. A continuing tragedy of emotional abuse is that, when these children become parents, they may continue the cycle with their own children.)

Identifying and Preventing Emotional Abuse

Some children may experience emotional abuse only, without ever experiencing another form of abuse.

Emotional abuse that exists independently of other forms of abuse is the most difficult form of child abuse to identify and stop.

emotional abuse doesn’t result in physical evidence such as bruising or malnutrition, it can be very hard to diagnose.

Researchers have developed diagnostic tools to help professionals who work with children and families identify and treat emotional abuse. 

What You Can Do..

Don’t call your child names or attach labels to your child. Names such as “Stupid” or “Lazy,” or phrases like “good for nothing,” “You’ll never amount to anything,” “If you could only be more like your brother,” and “You can never do anything right” tear at a child’s self-esteem. 

Never be afraid to apologize to your child. If you lose your temper and say something in anger that wasn’t meant to be said, apologize. Children need to know that adults can admit when they are wrong.

Compliment your child when he or she accomplishes even a small task, or when you see good behavior.

Walk away from a situation when you feel you are losing control. Isolate yourself in another room for a few minutes (after first making sure the child is safe), count to 10 before you say anything.

A CHILD DESERVES RESPECT..... :)