Child Abuse – 2012 Follow-up

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By Terry Orr

Last year we focused on Signs of Physical, Emotional and Sexual Abuse (http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/08/child-abuse-facts-for-parents.html) and this year our focus in about what is child abuse and breaking the terrible cycle.

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What is child abuse?

Child abuse is definitely more than bruises, burns or black eyes. While physical abuse can be easily noticed or observed, other types of abuse such as child neglection or emotional abuse are hard to notice, and needless to say, it leaves a long and deep lasting scars that can never be forgotten.

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There are also other types of child abuse such as substance abuse, medical abuse, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. All these abuse can cause the child to suffer from long term psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), clinical depression and anxiety.

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"Child abuse is a problem no one really talks about. Abuse and neglect is the number 1 cause of injury to children in the country. More children die of abuse or neglect than of natural causes" ~ Donna Miller

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Did You Know:

• Almost five children die every day because of child abuse. And more than three out of four children are under the age of 4.
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
• 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach eighteen.
• Most of the child abuse parents have a history of child abuse themselves.
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
• About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.

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The Cycle MUST be broken!

Break the cycle of abuse with the following steps:

• Deal with past abuse. Without intervention, abuse continues to affect you. Talking and acknowledging what happened helps you heal, which breaks the cycle of abuse.
• Recognize that pushing memories of abuse away often backfires. People find themselves repeating patterns on an unconscious level because they haven't dealt with the cycle of abuse in a healthy manner.
• Realize that some victims of child abuse don't abuse their children, but turn that anger inward and suffer from depression. Children of the abused are at risk of neglect or of being abused by someone else unless you break the cycle.
• Consider making an appointment for therapy. Talking with a trained therapist can help you work through your memories in order to recognize and break from abusive situations. Or attend a support group. Sometimes being with others who have suffered similar experiences helps people open up.
• Understand that abusers are at fault, not the person who was abused. Grieve for what you lost and find constructive ways to deal with feelings of anger. Learn appropriate communication skills in order to improve communication with others in a healthy manner.
• Take note of problems with relationships. Consider that relationship problems often relate to a history of abuse. Reliving abuse is common and problems to victims who can't have a trusting, intimate relationship.
• Seek assistance from a victim's aid group or domestic violence agency. Many organizations exist to provide a safe place to stay or provide legal information and emotional support.

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(Read more: How to Break the Cycle of Abuse | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2157545_break-cycle-abuse.html#ixzz24UrTQizA)

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