by Zina Leone

Created on: July 29, 2009

Child Abuse, the Lasting Affects:

Child abuse isn't something that happens once and then it's over and forgotten. It's something that happens over and over, and it becomes a lifestyle to the child. Slowly but surely, any semblance of "normal" is taken from him and he is left trying to fit into a world he knows little or nothing about. I really don't think people can even begin to imagine what a child goes through and how it affects him his whole life.

Imagine being called ugly and stupid every day of your life and the people calling you this are your own parents. Parents are like God to a child; they're the ones who take care of you and teach you how life's supposed to be. They're all powerful and all knowing so if they say you're ugly and stupid, it must be true, right?

(The child learns he is ugly and stupid.)

Imagine never being hugged or even smiled at by your parents your entire childhood. Now and then a stranger smiles at you and maybe even tries to give you a hug. It feels awkward and strange and you think something's wrong. What are they smiling at? You want to go hide; it just doesn't feel right, and if mommy or daddy sees this person being nice to you, they're going to be mad. You cringe when the person touches you and you're afraid.

(The child learns he is unlovable. He also learns to hate being touched. He pulls away if someone tries to hug him.)

Imagine when you're allowed to go outside to play, you're confined inside a fence and not allowed to play with other children. Sometimes you sneak and play with one of the neighborhood children through the fence, but you're always on the lookout for daddy so your playmate can run away before he sees him. Inside the house, you're either confined to a bare bedroom or to the cellar. You have no interaction with your parents except for when they're mad.

(The child learns to be isolated. He doesn't know how to interact with people.)

Imagine being beaten with a flyswatter all over your body. Your mother is in a rage and it's like she can't control herself. She just keeps swinging and swinging and no matter how hard you try to shield yourself, it's useless. Each blow is harder than the one before. She finally stops and she's all out of breath; she has this wild look in her eyes. You're covered with welts all over your body, including your face and you're cowering in a corner in a fetal position, covering your head with your arms. Now imagine going to visit Grandma the next day. She sees the welts and

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