"Abuse" - Louise Madrick (15)

Maybe you know someone who is being abused, or it may be yourself. Here are some of the signs and facts. Abuse can be physical, sexual, or psychological.

Physical abuse is any forceful or violent physical behaviour.

Examples:

slapping
shoving
punching
burning
spitting
choking

Some signs to look for to know if a person a being physically abused:

Fears parents
Is fearful of other adults
Shows extreme behaviour; aggressiveness, emotional withdrawal, regression
Frequent and unexplained cuts, welts, burns, and bruises.

Psychological abuse doesn't have many physical signs. Though it doesn't physically hurt someone it is still just as serious.

Examples:

Attacks self-esteem
Vague threats
Attacks or insults family or friends
Blames the victim for everything that goes wrong
Acts extremely jealous of the victim

Some signs of someone who is being psychologically abused are:

Shows extreme depression
Threatens or attempts suicide
Extremely eager to please, but unable to to believe in ability to please adults
Displays passive then aggressive behaviour
Lags in physical and emotional development

Sexual abuse both hurts the victim emotionally and physically.

Examples:

Forced sexual activity when the person tells them "no", person is sleeping, drunk, or high and unable to say "no", person is not asked, or if the person is afraid to say "no" Physically attacking the sexual parts of the body; grabbing breasts, pinching butt, touching in any way that is not wanted.

Some signs to look for in a person who is sexually abused:

Shies away from opposite sex
Sudden change in the way the person dresses
Quits socializing
Mood swings
Suddenly cries when physical contact is mentioned, kissing, having sex, making out

If someone you know is being abused remember how serious it is. Tell a trusted adult right away. You don't want to make the person suffer any further. If a person tells you they are being abused believe them and tell them you are there for them.