Childhood is a part of life where innocence blooms and things are not as serious as they become during adulthood. A child is supposed to play, learn, and study; they are not expected to be responsible or deal with things on their own. Children make mistakes and learn from them while adults are there to look after them and help with their needs. However, some children have to deal with severe child abuse in many forms, which eventually ruins their childhood and affects their development. Let’s learn about five things that can ruin childhood innocence and harm them mentally.
Exposure to Violence
Exposure to violence can cause harm to any existing human being regardless of their age. Now, when it comes to children, the impact of trauma is comparatively greater. When children are facing or dealing with violence in their lives, they become hyper, sensitive, and stressed out. They develop severe behavioral issues and have a hard time trusting others; the reason behind them not trusting others is the fact that people around them are violent. Therefore, they fear that others are the same.
Premature Responsibility
Children in abusive households go through a lot of trauma and depression and another cause behind that is premature responsibility. When children are in their early stages, they are supposed to learn basic educational things or games and have fun. But, abusive parents expect them to be responsible and hold them accountable for things they have no idea about. They expect children to take care of their siblings and even manage household tasks.
Inappropriate Media Content
In the world of digital media, it is easy for anyone to access things with a single click. As convenient as it may sound, it is dangerous. When children are exposed to media content and the internet, they can easily get involved in violent games or inappropriate or explicit movies, which can eventually lead them to develop violent behaviors and lose their innocence.
Bullying and Peer Pressure
Bullying is considered a potion that slowly affects an individual and leads them toward extreme mental issues. It is important to teach your children about bullies and how to immediately complain about them. Bullying can affect self-confidence and create a lifelong insecurity within an individual. It is also important to teach children in a way that they do not end up becoming a bully.
Neglect and Emotional Abuse
When parents neglect their children and create an environment of emotional abuse, then children end up developing extreme mental health issues. Victims of emotional abuse and neglect have no sense of boundary and they can never differentiate between healthy and unhealthy forms of affection. They always accept the bare minimum regardless of how harmful it is in the long term and what consequences it may have. When children are starved of affection, they accept it even in the form of breadcrumbs because they think it is a feast.
Conclusion
In conclusion, childhood innocence is a precious aspect of human development that deserves protection and nurturing. Ensuring children grow up in a safe, supportive, and loving environment is crucial for their long-term well-being and happiness. Read “Rising Up- A True Story of Childhood Abuse” by Nancy Pusateri if you wish to read a raw, first-hand perspective of someone who survived childhood abuse.
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