Children

Emotional Effects

Emotional isolation

Children who are abused can be very emotionally isolated. The abuser can force the child to keep the abuse a secret. If the abuser is a family member, the child may worry about what will happen to the family if the secret is told. Carrying a secret, and the abuse itself, can make the child feel different and apart from others, not like a normal person.

Self-blame and guilt

The child may think they are to blame for the abuse. They may feel the abuse is punishment for something they did wrong. The abuser may, in fact, have told the child this was the case. Children usually assume that adults, who are in a position of authority, are right. The guilt and shame felt by the child can persist into adult life.

Betrayed trust

As an abused child, trust is betrayed, perhaps by someone trusted by the family, or even by a family member. When this happens, it can be difficult to trust again.