The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

Many people in unhappy marriages stay together for the sake of the children. When the home is steeped in violence, even if it is not directed at the children, the effects can be devastating on young hearts and minds. Up to ten million kids and teens actually witness violent interactions between caregivers or parents every year in this country. These incidents of domestic violence—whether verbal, sexual, psychological, or sexual—can have lasting impacts on youth. Unfortunately, children who witness this type of violence often do not receive the help they require to deal with it. Because they lack the outer signs of violence like bruises and broken bones, people just don’t realize the suffering that they endure.

 Notice the Signs 

The psychological damage to young children who witness violence between those they love can lead to recognizable symptoms, including:

• Increased anxiety and irrational fears;
• Depression and hopelessness;
• Withdrawal from friends, school activities, and so forth;
• Bedwetting and/or nightmares;
• An increase in their own aggressive behavior;
• Bullying others, or becoming the victim of bullying;
• Isolation;
• Changes in appetite, behaviors, and attitude.

Adolescents, too, may have distinct reactions to witnessing domestic violence, exhibiting behaviors such as:

• Rebellious or disrespectful behavior;
• Experimenting with alcohol or drugs;
• Sluffing school;
• Grades taking a tumble;
• Anxiety and depression;
• Losing interest in activities they formerly enjoyed;
• Withdrawing from friends and activities.

Addressing Kids’ Needs 

Children experiencing these kinds of symptoms should always undergo an evaluation by a mental health professional trained to work with youth. Understanding what’s going on in their minds can lead to successfully treating emotional traumas, with excellent behavioral outcomes possible. Family, group, or individual therapy, and, in some cases, medications, can make an enormous difference for youngsters who simply don’t know how to deal with the violence they’ve witnessed. Specifically, these children need the following:

• A feeling of safety;
• An understanding that they are not at fault for the violence they’ve witnessed;
• An understanding of what healthy relationships look like and feel like;
• A guide to setting healthy boundaries in their own lives;
• A support system that they can rely on.

Ultimately, though we cannot expect children or teens to forget what they’ve seen and heard, they can learn how to deal with their feelings in a healthy way. This will make opportunities for them to develop healthy relationships now and later more possible. The alternative is having kids who grow into adults who don’t know how to recognize stable relationships, making them more vulnerable to experiencing the same situations they witnessed growing up.

The Help You Need 

If you are in a violent relationship and have recognized the peril you are subjecting your children to, this is the time to move on. At the Law Office of Julia Kefalinos, our dedicated and compassionate Miami domestic violence attorneys can help. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Miami office today.

Source:

aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Helping-Children-Exposed-to-Domestic-Violence-109.aspx