Question

What will the longterm mental and physical ramifications be for children whose childhood was saturated with violence?

answer within 250 words

Answer 1

Research evidence has been accumulating that suggests that exposure to violence in television, movies, video games, cell phones, and on the internet increases the risk of them behaving violently in future.

Mental ramifications:

Violenece in childhood increases the risk of substance abuse including alcohol, sedatives, cocaine, amphetamines, and opiates in adulthood. They mayhave mental illnesses like schizophrenia, personality disorders,depression,suicidal tenedency or affective disorders. some times they may suffer with alcoholism and antisocial personality disorder.

Children exposed to violence in their home often have conflicting feelings towards their parents; For instance, distrust and affection often coexist for the abuser. The child becomes overprotective of the victim and feels sorry for them.

They often develop anxiety, fearing that they may be injured or abandoned, that the child's parent being abused will be injured, or that they are to blame for the violence that is occurring in their homes. Grief, shame, and low self esteem are common emotions that children exposed to domestic violence experience.

Depression

Depression is a common problem for children who experience domestic violence. The child often feels helpless and powerless. More girls internalize their emotions and show signs of depression than boys. Boys are more apt to act out with aggression and hostility.Witnessing violence in the home can give the child the idea that nothing is safe in the world and that they are not worth being kept safe which contributes to their feelings of low self-worth and depression.

Anger

Some children act out through anger and are more aggressive than other children. Even in situations that do not call for it, children will respond with anger. Children and young people particularly highlighted angry feelings as a consequence of experiencing domestive violence. Physical aggression can also manifest towards the victim from the children as the woman does not have the ability to develop authority and control over them.^[14]

Post traumatic stress disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder can result in children from exposure to domestic violence. Symptoms of this are nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, increased alertness to the environment, having problems concentrating, and can lead to physical symptoms. If the child experiences chronic early maltreatment within the caregiving relationship, then Complex post traumatic stress disorder can result.

Physical ramifications:

Unfortunately, many of the injuries sustained from physical abuse affect the victim as they grow older. The long-term effects of physical abuse include:

• Arthritis
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart disease
• Sexually transmitted diseases (in the cases where sexual abuse was part of the physical abuse)
• Chronic pain syndromes