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Effects on Child Witnesses of Domestic Violence
More than 3 million children each year are front row spectators to domestic violence in their homes. In half of the homes where domestic violence occurs, the abuse eventually includes the children. Children grow up believing power and control are used to settle disputes and are more likely to repeat the same behavior as adults.
Physical Effects
- Somatic complaints, headaches, and stomach aches.
- Nervous, anxious, short attention spans, frequently misdiagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
- Tired and lethargic.
- Frequently ill.
- Poor personal hygiene.
- Regression in development, thumb sucking, etc., depending on age.
- Desensitization to pain.
- High risk play and activities.
- Self-abuse.
- Adolescent eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide, delinquency.
Emotional Effects
- Shame, guilt, and self-blame, ie., "I caused it" or "I should have been able to stop it."
- Grief for family and personal losses.
- Confusion about conflicting feelings toward parents.
- Fear of abandonment, of expressing emotions, or unknown and/or personal injury.
- Anger about violence and the chaos in their lives.
- Depression, feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.
- Embarrassed by the effects of abuse and the dynamics at home.
Behavioral Effects (may be opposite extremes)
- Acting out versus withdrawing, aggressive versus passive.
- Overachiever versus underachiever.
- Refusal to go to school.
- Caretaking, more concern for others than for self, acting as a parent substitute.
- Lying to avoid confrontation.
- Rigid defenses (aloof, sarcastic, defensive, "black and white" thinking).
- Excessive attention seeking, often using extreme behaviors.
- Bedwetting and nightmares.
- Out of control behavior, not able to set own limits or follow directions.
- Reduced intellectual competency.
- Manipulation, dependency, mood swings.
Social Effects
- Isolation from friends and relatives.
- Relationships that are frequently stormy, start intensely and end abruptly.
- Difficulty in trusting, especially adults.
- Poor anger management and problem solving skills.
- Excessive social involvement to avoid home life.
- Passivity with peers or bullying toward peers, play with peers gets extremely rough.
- Engaged in exploitative relationships, either as perpetrator or victim.
A Safe Place provides individual and group counseling to child witnesses of domestic violence in both the residential and nonresidential programs. Children learn to deal with feelings of fear and anger, shame and guilt. And they are provided the tools to deal with disagreements and conflict in nonviolent ways. The 24-hour help line 847-249-4450; TTY 847-249-6557, can provide assistance in accessing services.
If you would like more information about A Safe Place, please call us at 847-731-7165 or email us at info@asafeplaceforhelp.org. |
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A Safe Place provides individual and group counseling to child witnesses of domestic violence in both the residential and nonresidential programs.
The 24-hour HELP LINE, 847-249-4450; TTY 847-249-6557, can provide assistance in accessing services.
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