What is Child Abuse and Child Neglect

Child abuse or child maltreatment is the physical, emotional or sexual cruelty toward children. Child neglect is the failure of parents or caretakers to provide sufficient physical and emotional care of a child.

A child is abused either by being battered, sexually exploited or mistreated with abusive words or vulgarity. Withholding love, not giving enough attention, loving words, hugs and cuddles are signs of child neglect.

Some of the effects of child abuse and neglect are timidity, low self esteem, lack of confidence and becoming abusive themselves. Adults who show violent or aggressive behaviors usually have a history of violence, being abused or neglected during their childhood.

Probable Causes of Child Abuse

Personal problems

Parents usually don't want to hurt their children. But their personal problems, insecurities and hostility make them insensitive to the emotional needs of their kids.

Treating kids as invincible

Many adults treat their kids as invisible. They get into marital confrontations and domestic violence in the presence of their children. These kids have to witness their mothers being beaten or fathers getting home drunk and acting aggressive.

Too busy

Children sometimes suffer silently from the feeling of abandonment because their parents are too absorbed in their work or careers or are too exhausted or depressed to give them the attention. And a child will feel more neglected if her single parent has found a new love and diverted the attention.

Disciplining children

Some parents instill fear and damage their children's esteems by applying severe punishment. What can little children do when big guys beat them up? They may not even know the actual reasons for being punished. What they can assume is that they are bad and that was why they deserved the treatment.

Taking advantage

The saddest and most horrific act of child abuse is sexually abusing a child's innocence. A child is so vulnerable and eager to explore and are generally inquisitive. Most likely it happened on the pretext of education or displaying affection. How can anyone tolerate when the person who is supposed to support and love her unconditionally is the one who break her spirit and damage her self worth.

These child abuse victims suffer emotionally and internalized their sufferings. They grow up to become extensions of their past. You meet these people moving around doing things like everyone else but their behaviors are sometimes irrational.

The Effects of Child Abuse and Child Neglect

1. They injure themselves.
   
   
   
2. They hurt their wives, children, other people and even animals.
   
   
   
3. They become addicted to alcohol, drugs, sex or work.
   
   
   
4. They exert control and power over others.
   
   
   
5. They get involved in abusive or domineering relationships.
   
   
   
6. They become obese or suffer eating disorders.
   
   
   
7. They have problems with their sexuality or sexual tendencies.
   
   
   
8. They fear intimacy.
   
   
   
9. They are depressed and withdrawn.
   
   
   
10. They believe that they are not worthy of love.

How to Recover from Child Abuse

1. Find supportive people and allow yourself to talk about your emotions. Enough has been bottled up. Let go and release them.
   
   
   
2. Recondition yourself to solve conflicts in non violent ways. Acquire communication skill so that you can interact effectively, understand and be understood.
   
   
   
3. Disallow people to dictate your life and avoid dominating others. Don't use threats and manipulations to get attention.
   
   
   
4. Learn to be sensitive to other people's feelings. Listen to what others have to say without answering back. Allow them to express their emotions.
   
   
   
5. Develop a different personality, something that shows your strength and confidence.
   
   
   
6. Examine the important things in your life and learn to say "No" to the less important things and people.
   
   
   
7. Learn to break the patterns of your upbringing so that you will not pass it on to your children.
   
   
   
8. If you are married and have kids, treat them affectionately. They are delicate and fragile. They don't know right from wrong and need you to guide them.
   
   
   
9. If you are facing domestic violence or are mentally or emotionally unstable, seek professional help. You must learn to control and manage your emotions especially that of anger.
   
   
   
10. Learn to feel grateful. Your children are a gift. Nurture them so that they grow up to become responsible adults.
    
    
    
11. Release and forgive. The past is over. Whatever has happened did happen. But it doesn't have to repeat. Release it from your mind. As long as you keep replaying it, you are going to keep on feeling awful.
    
    
    
12. Try using EFT or emotional freedom technique to help you recover from your adverse childhood experiences and release emotional wounds.

Child Abuse Prevention

1. If you know that a child is being maltreated, report the cruel treatment to the authority. Your action may save a life and the future of a kid.
   
   
   
2. If you can afford it and have a lot of love to give, adopt a homeless, abandoned or neglected child.
   
   
   
3. If you know someone who is abusing anyone, encourage him to seek help and go for counseling.
   
   
   
4. Create awareness among people on the ill effects of abuse of any kind.

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