By its very nature, child abuse is threatening and disruptive to normal child development.
The very person charged with the care and nurturing of a child, and to whom the child turns for food, love and safety, can cause the child pain and injury. The child then learns to distrust adults. Children who are neglected and abuse exhibit a wide array of characteristics and behaviours. Most common among these are anger, acting out, depression, anxiety, aggression, social withdrawal, low self-esteem and sleep difficulties.
At the extreme end, abuse can cause a child to dissociate and develop disorders such as schizophrenia, amnesia and personality disorder. Personality disorder is a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to function in every day activities such as work, school and interpersonal relationships. Borderline personality disorder is a frequent diagnosis for children who are victims of abuse or neglect. Symptoms can include paranoia, lack of impulse control, limited range of emotions, and inability to form close and lasting relationships.