Breaking the Cycle: Helping Children Overcome the Scars of Maltreatment
There is something wonderful about touch, especially for children. After a long day at school, a hug says “Welcome home, sweet-heart, I love you!” The squeeze of a hand on the way to the doctor’s office can mean “ It’s all right , I am right here with you.”
In today’s world, where children grow up so quickly we need to use touches like these to remind children that they are special, that we love them, care for them, accept and support them. After all, isn’t that what we all want from those around us?
But what about touches that leave a hurtful impression on a child for a long, long time? In the last three months of the horrifying scenarios across Bangladesh, now it may imperatively concern us to take care of our child’s not only their physical health but also mental health. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and treatment Act (CAPTA) defines child maltreatment as an physical, sexual and emotionally-damaging act- including neglect that happens to a person who is under 18 years of age. Additionally 93 percent victims know the abuser and approximately one- third to two -thirds (about 33% to 67%) of individuals who experienced child abuse experiencing long term childhood trauma in adulthood and around 50% to 60% of individuals who were abused as children continue to face mental health challenges such as PTSD(Post – Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, anxiety and substance abuse as their adult life.
The consequences of childhood maltreatment can hamper a child’s psychological aspects that could be a curse. Victims of maltreatment can be affected at all levels of development and effects can already be present in childhood and last lifelong [11,12,13,14,15].Maltreated children are more likely to show poor cognitive performance[16,17,18,19], difficulties recognizing emotions in others [ 20,21], and more problems with regulating their own emotions, which can result in behavior problems and later psychiatric diagnoses [22,23,24]. They even have a higher rate of suicidal ideation and so on.
A child mostly feels safe towards their parents but the thoughts or awareness of parents in Bangladesh has not yet been awakened that’s why the children can not open up with their parents where mostly parents can play a crucial role in supporting a child’s mental health recovery from child maltreatment by creating a nurturing ,safe and supportive environment, fostering secure attachments, and seeking professional help when needed.
Here are several ways parents can help their child recover from maltreatment
Providing a Safe and Nurturing Environment:
Safety is often the first step in helping a child who has been exposed to maltreatment feel secure enough to process their emotions. A safe environment allows the child to feel grounded, which is crucial for healing. i.e.g. a child who has faced neglect or physical abuse may feel constantly unsafe. Parents can help by creating a predictable, secure home environment where the child’s feel protected and cared for. Establishing regular routines, ensuring safety, and fostering positive emotional connections can help child regain trust.
Listening and Validating Emotions
Validation helps children feel seen and heard. When their emotions are acknowledged, children are more likely to open up and process their trauma like if a child expresses fear, anger, or sadness due to past experiences, parents should listen without judgement. Instead of dismissing the child’s feelings , parents can say things like, “I understand that you are scared , and it’s okay to feel that way.”
Modeling healthy coping strategies
Children learn by observing. By modeling healthy emotional regulation and problem – solving skills, parents provide children with tools for handling their own emotions, especially in the face of distress. For example: If a child sees a parent handle difficult emotions with resilience and healthy coping strategies, the child is more likely to adopt those behaviors as well.
Fostering positive social connections
Positive social interactions help children develop their healthy relationships, rebuild trust, and enhance their emotional resilience. There afterwards parents can encourage their child to interact with supportive peers or family members who can offer a positive influence. If a child has been isolated due to maltreatment, being part of a caring community can help restore their self- esteem and sense of belonging.
Building Trust Through Consistent Support
When children feel that they can rely on their parents to meet their needs and provide stability, it begins to heal the damage done to their sense of trust in others. Like for a child who has experienced physical abuse, trust might have been broken. Parents can rebuild trust by being consistent in their actions, following through on promises and offering unconditional love and support.
Showing patience and Compassion
Healing from trauma takes time. A parent’s understanding and patience provide a safe space for the child to express and process difficult emotions at their own pace. A child who faced maltreatment may act out in ways that are difficult to understand, such as withdrawal or aggressive behavior. Parents who are patient and compassionate, rather than reacting with frustration or anger, will help the child feel less isolated and more understood.
Finally, child maltreatment is not desirable in any way. What is the safety of children in Bangladesh at present? The question of the brutality of the brutal flowers float in front of the eyes and the innocent faces of the flowers and the shadowy face of those parents who are overwhelmed with fear and insecurity.
“After all, who isn’t a survivor from the wreck of childhood?”- Nicole krauss
https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/effects-child-abuse
