1. Get clear. Perception check – what is he/she showing you and telling you? …
2. Reign in the forward-thinking and fantasy. …
3. Don’t lose yourself. …
4. Give yourself time. …
5. Build trust
   

   Long-term Effects of Child Abuse

   Child maltreatment causes physical effects to the body. While your body can heal, the stress of abuse on your body can cause long-term effects. ‌

   If you’ve developed a chronic health problem, you’re not alone. Studies show child abuse leads to a higher chance of getting a long-term health problem as an adult, including:

   • Migraines
   • Diabetes
   • Arthritis
   • Vision problems
   • Cancer
   • Stroke
   • Bowel disease
   • Heart attack
   • Back problems
   • High blood pressure
     

     Emotional Effects of Child Abuse

     Abuse can lead to emotional and behavioral effects. This happens because toxic stress in childhood disrupts your brain growth and changes its structures.  Toxic stress is what happens when your stress response is strongly or continually activated, which happens during abuse and neglect. ‌

     These changes to your brain can lead to long-term results of child abuse.

   • • Have trouble setting boundaries
     • Put up emotional walls
     • feel defensive
     • Seek approval from others

       You might experience:

       • Anxiety
       • depression
       • Trouble learning
       • Trouble paying attention
       • Memory problems
       • problems with self control
       • Low self-esteem‌

       Severe mistreatment leads to fear, distrust, and isolation, and this can affect you into your adult years. As a child, you learned survival techniques that helped you cope, but those techniques can interfere with your life as an adult. ‌

       You might find you have trouble trusting others and keeping loving relationships. You might feel angry, or you might fight and blame others a lot. It’s also common to have trouble with intimacy and

     • People who love you don’t constantly call you names and yell at you.
     • People who love you don’t try to control your every thought and action
     • People who love you don’t try to make you think you’re crazy
     • People who love you don’t do the hurtful things your partner did on a daily basis

Remember, you were born fully worthy of love 💗 and to be cherished.    You are and always were good enough