How To Help Children And Youth Affected By Physical Abuse

Has Been Allowed To Be In Dangerous Situations; Beaten, Burned, Hair Pulled, Punched, Thrown, Whipped; Withholding Enough Food; Slapped, Shaken, Spanked As Punishment

Physical abuse is very complicated–it can involve the child or youth’s body, sensations, mind, thoughts, emotions, social relations. Without healing assistance, being physically abused can create great difficulties learning, living, and getting along with others. Physical abuse diminishes self-esteem and confidence. It can make success in life sporadic. Physical abuse can create physical, emotional, perceptual, communication and learning difficulties. It can create distrust, fear, anxiety, anger, withdrawal and isolation. Physically abused children & youth can learn to be bullies and victims. They can become insensitive to themselves and others. Being physically abused can make growing up to be a non-abusive parent difficult. People who are physically abusive often have been physically abused themselves. Perpetrators often suffer from a combination of: mental illness; learning and developmental delays; addictions; emotional and physical discomfort from unhealed accidents, traumas and abuses of all kinds; prolonged stress; nutritional imbalances; exposure to environmental pollutants.

Has been allowed to be in dangerous situations:

Without help, children & youth can have difficulty learning how to be careful because they have not been taught to discriminate between safety and danger. Such children & youth can also have difficulty trusting love. They’re also being taught that they are not worthy of protection. Parents and caretakers who allow children to be in dangerous situations are often self absorbed, unaware and not present.

Beaten, burned, hair pulled, punched, thrown, whipped:

Without sensitive assistance, children & youth often have difficulty recovering their sanity as adults. Often teens and adults who have been abused this way become very good at pretending that they are O.K. Even the repressed memory of such abuses can sabotage adult success in careers, relationships and being a parent. This can lead to powerful, confusing thoughts and behaviors.

Withholding enough food:

Without help, children & youth who have not been given enough food can experience all kinds of emotional and physical difficulties relating to not being loved or cared for. Eating disorders often result. Such children & youth can become bullies and/or victims and can be very resentful. They can also be so hungry for attention or affection that they cannot perceive dangerous situations or people. This is one of the ways that poverty can be physically abusive.

Slapped, shaken, spanked as punishment:

This is a very controversial topic. How often, how forceful, how emotionally aroused the perpetrator is, and whether other parenting techniques are being used are also very important topics for families to discuss. Such treatment teaches children & youth that violence is acceptable. Too often, parents who were treated this way do the same to their children or youth when frustration erupts. Often this sort of abuse is considered acceptable discipline. Being slapped, shaken or being spanked can be dangerous on all levels. Without assistance in releasing the psychological, physical and spiritual effects of suffering this abuse, children & youth can develop learning disabilities, inability to control themselves, inability to trust themselves, and an inability to enjoy their own bodies. Learning challenges can develop or be made worse by the long term effects of this abuse. Such children & youth stand a good chance of growing to be parents who do the same thing. This behavior is legally banned for use in the home by many countries.

First, We Would Investigate	Second, We Would Investigate	For Long Term Support We Would Investigate
For Parents: Support For Parents Nonviolent Communication Psychotherapy Psychiatry Western Medicine Osteopathy Flower Essences EMDR Hypnotherapy Biofeedback Nutrition Consulting Environmentally Healthy Homes For Children or Youth: Nonviolent Communication Craniosacral Chiropractic Psychiatry Psychotherapy EMDR Hypnotherapy Biofeedback Developmental Optometry Attitudinal Healing Expressive Arts Wilderness Therapy Nutrition Consulting	For the Whole Family: Herbology Drumming Music Lessons Feldenkrais Massage Meditation Traditional Chinese Medicine Ayurveda	For the Whole Family: Support For Parents Nutrition Consulting Craniosacral Feldenkrais EMDR Hypnotherapy Nonviolent Communications Expressive Arts Aikido Yoga Meditation

On Our Own We Would Try: • Back Rubs and Foot Massages • Wholesome Pleasures • Bedtime Stories and Chats • Long Walks And Hikes • Nature • Pets • Less or No TV, Movies, Video/Computer Games • Replace sodas, juices, sugars, fats, fast foods with water, veggies, whole grains, nuts, protein, fruit, slow food

For Parents: • Get medical and mental health evaluations for the whole family. • Get assistance and support for yourself. • Protect the child or youth from future abuses. • Remember to focus on the child or youth’s strengths. Acknowledge these frequently. • Get support for healing the causes of your being physically abusive so that the abuse stops. • Learn how to make amends and make them to children or youth who have been physically abused.