Recognizing Abuse in Others

If you suspect you know someone experiencing an abusive situation or a potentially abusive situation you may not be sure. This list suggests some things to look for, which could indicate abuse:

Possible signs of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in adults:

  • The person has personality changes (angry, depressed, moody, defensive, irritable, agitated etc.)
  • They become withdrawn, closed, suddenly fearful, or secretive
  • They have difficulty sleeping at night, or seem abnormally tired (this is also a symptom of depression) Their self-esteem lowers, or they become very negative about themselves
  • They become distracted and have difficulty concentrating
  • They neglect their personal hygiene or personal appearance, i.e. going unwashed, noticeable body odour, unkempt appearance (this can be an attempt to escape or a symptom of depression)
  • There are physical signs of injuries; ie. bruises, sores, burns, cuts, black eyes
  • The person makes excuses for their injuries which seem implausible
  • They try to hide their injuries; i.e. excessive make-up, sunglasses, extra clothing

Possible signs of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in children:

  • Signs of physical injury or illness: There are physical signs of injuries; i.e. bruises, sores, burns, cuts, black eyes. STI’s, frequent yeast or bladder infections, pregnancy in older children, difficulty sitting or walking, injury to genital areas, child complaining of headaches and stomach aches without medical explanation (etc…)
  • Unhappiness & Withdrawal: A child that was once generally happy may appear irritable and sad.  May withdraw from activities they once enjoyed
  • Regression:A child who returns to an earlier stage in their development.  May be clingy to caregivers and start thumb-sucking or bed wetting
  • Changes at school: Can be either displayed as a child who was once doing well who suddenly declines in performance or a child who seems to increase in performance.  A child may suddenly seek more approval by teachers
  • Aggression & Self Destruction: Anger, violence, and bullying behavior towards other children or animals  (Example: lying, stealing, or destruction to objects, display of self destructive behaviors, and use of drugs or alcohol)
  • Difficulty sleeping/Frequent nightmares: Often children who experience sexual abuse have increased anxiety being alone at night
  • Sexual acting out: Any expression of knowledge, language, and behavior that is out of the scope of normal sexual developmen.

You can do something; contact us and we can help you identify dangerous situations and assist you in building an action plan to help.