What abuse does to a person?

What Does Abuse Do To A Person?

Abuse comes in many forms.  Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, or in the form of neglect.  Despite the type of abuse, it can have short- or long-term effects on its victim.  To make this complex subject a bit simpler, I’ve divided this question into areas that abuse can intrude on.

The Brain

When viewing an MRI of an abused brain versus a brain of one who has not been abused, there are drastic differences.  Firstly, the brain structure changes.  Secondly, if the brain is still developing (the victim is a child), the brain may stop developing in places or be slow to develop where it should.  Lastly, the function of the brain also changes.  For example, the brain utilizes more reptilian functioning when abused (acting in flight, fight, freeze more often than it should) than someone who has not been abused.  If you’d like to learn more about this, I recommend Dr. Bruce Perry’s work on the brain and trauma.

Physical/The Body

Abuse can cause physical harm to a person.  A person can receive cuts, bruises, marks, black eyes, etc.  However, long term, a person may also become blind, have brain damage, or have hearing loss from abuse.  Some of the less talked about physical effects of abuse may include unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, a compromised immune system, and chronic pain.  Please be aware that these are only examples and not a comprehensive list of physical harm from abuse.

Emotions

In my experience, survivors of abuse agree that the psychological effects of abuse far outweigh the physical abuse done to them.  I have had more than one client share, “Bruises heal, but words stick with you.”  Some of the issues are emotional abuse and neglect can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, binge-eating, substance abuse, trouble sleeping, and paranoia.  Emotional abuse can also lead to mental health diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and depression.

Relationships

Relationships after abuse are one of the biggest challenges survivors are faced with.  Survivors often (inaccurately) blame themselves for the abuse, feel guilt or shame around their abuse, and/or have few healthy relationships to get the support they need after abuse. 

Sometimes people who have been abused have grown up in environments where abuse was normal.  Since they know nothing different, they find themselves falling back into relationships and patterns of abuse.  Others have issues with codependency and fall into codependent relationships, where abuse thrives.  Some people have a negative self-image and feel they deserve no better than to be abused, so they continue to stay in relationships where they are neglected or abused in some manner.  Still, others do not know where to find or build healthy relationships, and the emotional issues they have from abuse hold them back.

Building a life after abuse is possible.  Having healthy relationships is possible.  However, doing this alone is not.  A support system and resources are needed to make a positive change.