Blog post #3 : What effects (long-term and short-term) does child neglect/abuse have later in life on adults?

How are the mental health of people who have been abused or are being abused (symptoms)?

The immediate response of children to abuse may be anxiety, shock, numbness, anger, irritation as a way to deal with the abuse. Numbness is a way of dealing and coping with abuse because they manage to shut of their feelings, behaviors, and thoughts. Numbing is mostly to hide the fact that they are being or have been abused. Derealization is something some survivors or kids during abuse go through. Derealization is when you forgot how to remember a certain memory or though which happens as a way to separate from distress to feel better or survive. (1 for the whole paragraph)

PTSD is common for people who have gone through abuse and trauma which might show itself after about three months. PTSD is put into 4 categories such as intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Intrusive memories are when traumatic flashbacks happen or they relive it by dreams or memories; moreover, avoidance is when the survivor avoids talking about the traumatic experience and things that remind them of the event. Negative changes in thinking and mood is when the person has bad thoughts about themself and others, ongoing bad emotions like anxiety, guilt, anger, shame, and numb, detached from family, friends, and activities. Changes in physical and emotional reactions might be being easily scared, on guard, self-destructive behavior, trouble concentrating and sleeping. (2)

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/#:~:text=Initial%20reactions%20to%20trauma%20can,1%20outlines%20some%20common%20reactions.
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-2035596

Thanks for reading!!!