Effects of Child Abuse

Think about the effects of child abuse as recovering from a bad case of the flu. It's doable, but as with recovering from any kind of sickness, it's helpful to understand what's going on. When you understand how past child abuse impacts you today, then you begin to see the areas you need to work on and steps you can take to enhance your recovery.

Why Understanding How To Recover From the Flu Can Help You Deal With Recovering From the Effects of Child Abuse

Pretend you're walking into the doctor's office complaining of extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, fever, and muscle aches. The doctor examines you as you tell him about your symptoms. He then diagnoses you as having the flu and tells you to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. He may even prescribe some medication to help you feel better. But the doctor never says "work harder" or "just keep pushing yourself." He wants you to recover and he (or she) knows the best way to do that is by doing the above. Well, it's the same thing when you're suffering from the effects of child abuse. You have certain "symptoms" and there are certain things you can do to give yourself the best chance of recovery.

What are some child abuse effects for adult survivors?

• Feeling guilty for no apparent reason (excessive apologizing to others for the smallest of mistakes)
• Feeling depressed or completely alone
• Trouble recalling events (can't remember that movie you saw two days ago?)
• Weight or body image issues
• Drug or alcohol problems
• You find it difficult to be happy and wonder why everyone else is so happy all the time
• Poor performance at school or work
• You feel like your life is out of control
• You think about suicide on a regular basis
• You have trouble receiving compliments from others
• You have trouble giving or receiving affection (e.g., you find it hard to hug others)
• You have trouble with healthy, intimate relationships

If any of the above sounds like what you experience (or have experienced) on an ongoing basis, you may be suffering from the effects of child abuse. Congratulations for making it this far! It shows you're thinking seriously about your personal development and what you need to do to help yourself heal.

Simple Steps for Dealing With the Effects of Child Abuse In Addition To Therapy That Will Enhance Your Recovery

Here are some simple things for you to try in terms of coping with the above effects. These are not substitutes for finding a good therapist to help you work out your issues. It's like recovering from the flu - these are things you can do that will enhance your recovery.

1. Exercise - Hit the gym, go for a jog, or any other physical activity. Besides helping to release endorphins (the brain chemicals that help make us happy), exercise is good for weight control and confidence building.

2. Find a hobby you enjoy that relaxes you and engages you at the same time (not television). Try to imagine what you would like to do all day if you could. Would you sail? Knit? Write a book? Pick something that supercharges your imagination or taps into a skill you'd like to improve or learn.

3. Take 15-20 minutes a day and meditate. Breathe in and out slowly. Try sitting still. Focus on your breath. Try to still your mind. Let the thoughts go quietly out of your mind.

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