Couples break up for several reasons, but the cases involving abuse can be particularly challenging. When you see your children getting abused by your spouse, it can be one of the hardest. You may want to protect your children by getting a divorce and moving to another house as soon as possible.
For most people, the signs of abuse in children are not apparent until it is too late. People are slow to recognize the small changes, which result in significant trauma later. Learning about the warning signs can help. If one or more of these signs apply to your child, speak to a Lehi divorce lawyer today.
Warning signs of abuse in children
- They seem more anxious and depressed.
If your child used to have a bubbly and happy personality but has suddenly become quieter, it may be a red flag. Children do not change their behavior overnight without any reason. Studies have shown that extreme physical, emotional, and mental abuse can result in anxiety and depression. The seriousness of the anxiety may depend on how severe the trauma is. In cases of sexual abuse, a single experience is often enough to scar a child.
- They have difficulty speaking.
Studies have shown that children who received trauma during the early stages of their life are at risk of developmental delays and disorders and are more likely to be bad at communication. Child abuse can cause all types of speech impairments, including stuttering, slurred speech, selective mutism, and baby talk.
- They have started wetting their bed again after stopping.
When children are very young, they wet their beds due to having a small bladder. However, they stop after a while, and the habit does not usually return. If your child had stopped their bedwetting but has suddenly started it again, it is a red flag. Emotional and psychological stress arising from abuse trauma can cause a child to behave or act differently.
- They have problems at school.
Children of trauma experience changes in all aspects of their life, including at school. It is a largely accepted fact that children of abuse are at a high risk of being bad at academic development. Maltreated children are likely to have poor social skills and classroom behavioral problems. They are also more likely to drop out than other children.
- They have low self-esteem.
Abuse has significantly major effects on a child’s self-esteem and self-worth. Emotional abuse involving doing and saying things to make the child feel bad about themself can lower their self-worth. They may start feeling like they are not good enough for anything, leading to self-denial.
Contact an attorney in Lehi today.
