Introduction
One of the most pressing issues affecting children worldwide is child abuse, which has garnered the attention of countries internationally. Parents, teachers, clergy, neighbors, and others can all harm children. An investigation of the case of Stacy, a youngster who was molested, is the focus of this paper. During her child abuse, Stacy found solace in using drugs and alcohol. She is only able to get some relief from her substance abuse. Even though she is aware that it is only a matter of time before her life is entirely wrecked, she still feels there is nothing she can do to save it. Abuse of children is a serious issue that can have repercussions for a person’s entire life (Moustafa et al., 2021). Children who have been mistreated require a unique type of treatment to satisfy their requirements. Therapists should consider the degree of the trauma, the victim’s age, and parental support while deciding on the best course of treatment for each victim.
A Trauma-Informed Approach
Children who grow up in households where safety, love, and protection are not guaranteed may develop coping mechanisms that help them get by daily. For example, a child may be highly perceptive of the emotions of others around them, constantly scanning to see how the adults in their lives are feeling and acting. To protect themselves from others, individuals may keep their feelings hidden (Scheidell et al., 2018). As long as physical and mental risks are ever-present, learning these kinds of adaptations through experience makes sense. A child’s adaptations to safe settings and relationships are no longer useful as they grow up and meet surroundings and friendships that are secure. Complex trauma can have an impact on children in a plethora of ways.
Sexual and physical abuse and neglect are three of the most common forms of trauma experienced by children in the United States and are considered public health issues. Psychiatric illnesses are more likely to develop in adults who have been exposed to trauma in their childhood, but this is not always the case. A person who has suffered trauma as a child is more likely to develop mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance misuse. The link between traumatic experiences and substance addiction is especially apparent in adolescents with PTSD. Up to 60% of young individuals with PTSD will develop substance abuse issues in the years following their diagnosis (Moustafa et al., 2021). Adolescent substance abuse is more likely if a child has been abused. Abused youngsters often turn to alcohol and other substances to deal with their past trauma. Unfortunately, drug abuse later in life also raises the possibility that these adults would neglect their children by perpetrating child maltreatment.
Poverty, job loss, and disease are just some of the additional stressors people face today. Children’s mistreatment and substance misuse can be passed down through families in a vicious cycle. Most mistreated or abandoned children have difficulty forming a healthy relationship with a parent or guardian. Stress is more likely to affect children who do not have strong bonds with their caregivers. Some of them have difficulty controlling their emotions, which can cause them to act violently or inappropriately in specific settings. Connections with peers and significant others can only be built on the foundation of strong ones with immediate family (Mergler et al., 2018). Children with a history of complex trauma may struggle in their sexual and interpersonal connections, as well as with their relationships with adults in power, such as school administrators or police officers.
The Potential Impact of Trauma and Its Influence on Addictive Behavior
Adolescents who were abused or neglected as children are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders throughout their adulthood. These children have a high possibility of experiencing trauma, have difficulty concentrating in school, managing their physical and psychological responses to distress, and developing trusting connections. Self-medication or reducing mood symptoms linked to a dysregulated physiologic stress response may be more likely in people who have experienced early trauma (Scheidell et al., 2018). The biological signaling cascade can be further disrupted by rising plasma cortisol levels in early adolescent substance use or misuse; however, this can also contribute to an increased risk of PTSD and concomitant depressive symptoms. Additional factors that help distinguish this link between substance misuse and PTSD include the beginning times and ages at which symptoms first appear.
A traumatic event occurs when someone chooses to use drugs and alcohol to cope with the emotional suffering they experience. The money set aside for things such as food is sucked dry by such a person’s drug and alcohol addiction. Moral violation leads to feelings of guilt and humiliation because of society’s breakdown of the link between social capital and one’s moral conscience. This emotional shame touches on societal, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of trauma. Because of a rise in substance misuse and violent activities, society is currently experiencing significant levels of poverty. It is common for many women in poverty to turn to prostitution to alleviate their financial hardships, but this can have a detrimental effect on their mental health (Moustafa et al., 2021). For many men, excessive alcohol consumption leads to driving accidents caused by intoxication and exceeding the recommended daily alcohol intake limit.
Creating a Safe Environment for Counseling
It is necessary to identify the complex interplay, or stages, by which neglected and abused children are at risk for substance use and disorder, as well as the structure of prevention programs for victims and their families. This helps to understand the effects of child maltreatment and the underlying causes of substance use disorders better. Multiple pathways are linked to child abuse risk for drug use and addiction, consistent with the concept of equifinality. Anger and aggressiveness are prominent temperament and behavioral markers for this pathway in childhood, as well as poor self-regulation and rule-breaking behaviors (Vest et al., 2018). Adults who want to interrupt the endless transmission of child abuse should seek treatment for substance misuse. Abused children may receive help from child welfare services, schools, healthcare providers, and rehabilitation centers. With this help, parents who are struggling with addiction will be able to seek the treatment they need without jeopardizing the safety of their children.
Several types of psychological treatment have been shown to benefit children who have been abused or whose parents are addicted to drugs. For those struggling with substance abuse, therapists focusing on recovery can help them create short-term goals that are both attainable and motivating. Sobriety can lead to the development of new coping abilities (Gannon et al., 2021). The counselor can try to discover the root cause of the addictive behavior with the person in therapy as the individual starts to use the new coping techniques they have learned in treatment. Rebuilding broken relationships, taking responsibility for one’s actions, and letting go of guilt are all examples of long-term goals that a therapist and patient might work on together.
Individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and treatments involving the entire family are just a few options available. This demographic can benefit from treatment that is trauma-focused and regimented, focusing on the possible symptoms of childhood abuse. A therapist and a client typically meet once a week for one-on-one therapy. In cognitive behavioral therapy and relapse prevention, the concept that sexual abuse does not merely happen is a crucial part of the approach. The vast majority of the time, criminals engage in certain activities prior to committing an offense. Successful treatment requires educating the perpetrators about this pathway of offending and understanding their pattern of abusive behavior. Victims of childhood maltreatment and drug addiction should be taught to recognize situations that put them at increased risk of re-offending (Moustafa et al., 2021). Based on the victim’s comprehension of the appalling practice, they can then learn to detect behavioral issues early in this cycle, adjust conduct, and subsequently minimize the risk that she will re-offend. Accepting the circumstance and letting it go, gaining victim empathy, and addressing incorrect thought patterns are crucial aspects of treatment.
Conclusion
Child abuse is a significant issue that many children worldwide confront, and it has garnered the focus of all countries. When Stacy was frightened at home and found her substance usage, it was almost as though she felt at ease. Even though she is aware that it is just temporary and has the potential to destroy her life, she feels as if her life has already been wrecked and there is nothing worth salvaging. Counselors must examine the degree and recurrence of the trauma, the victim’s age, and parental support while determining the most effective course of treatment for every victim. Adults desiring recovery and wishing to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect must first enter substance abuse treatment. These encompass individual counseling, group psychotherapy, and family-based therapies.
References
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