Long term and short term effects of abuse

Long term and short term effects of Self-Harm

With Self-harm, the majority of people who do it will cut themselves.

Short term effects of self-harm:

* Scarring

* Cuts, bruises, broken bones, weakened muscles

* Infections

* Nerve damage

* Low self-esteem

* Self-loathing and self hatred

* Irritability

* Feelings of shame and guilt

* Disfigurement

* Stress from explaining scars

* Substance use and abuse to self medicate

* Death

Long term effects of self-harm include:

* Injured tendons, nerves, blood vessels and muscles

* If a major nerve in your wrist is cut, it can leave permanent weakness or numbness in the hand, or both

* Chemical or acid burns can cause serious damage to the body internally

* Head banging can reduce reaction time and the flexibility of thinking

* Over-dosing can weaken the liver and kidneys

* Permanent nerve damage

* Weakened bones/joints from breakages

* Hair loss and bald spots

* Internal damage of digestive system from poisoning

* Depression and anxiety

* Psychiatric disorders

* Disfigurement

* Social isolation

* Permanent weakness or numbness in certain areas of the body

* Loss of limb

* Multi-organ damage and/or failure

Self-injurious behaviour is often the result of an undiagnosed or untreated mental illness. The most common mental health disorders that have self-harm as symptoms include:

* Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

* Past history of trauma, especially in childhood

* Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

* Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

* Eating disorders

Long term effects of Physical Abuse – Evaluation

* Arthritis – This can be an issue later on in their lives because as they age, their joints are going to naturally get weaker. With the previous injuries, this is going to make it significantly worse than it would’ve been without the abuse.

* Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke by damaging and weakening your brain's blood vessels, causing them to narrow, rupture or leak. It can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke.

* Heart disease – This is where the heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. It can cause premature death.

* Sexually transmitted diseases (where sexual abuse was part of the physical abuse)

* Chronic pain syndromes – This leaves you in a lot of pain for the reminder of your life.

* Worsening of medical illnesses – This is where something like diabetes isn’t attended to due to a priority of not being abused rather than take medication.

* Poor weight gain when pregnant – This can cause complications during pregnancy, labour and child birth, as there won’t be significant nutrients for the baby.

* Higher chance of miscarriages

* Low infant birth weight

* Suicidal thoughts and behaviour – This is a more dangerous long term affect as it can lead to the individual causing harm to themselves and ultimately killing themselves.

* Self-mutilation – This is an unhealthy coping strategy that could be developed.

* Panic disorder and PTSD – These can also develop over time due to the trauma.

* Stuttering – Stuttering is a common long term effect of physical abuse and it can cause problem in the future such as bullying, social isolation and low self-esteem.

* Anxiety, fear and compulsive behaviour – This can lead to the individual making impulsive decisions and not functioning as an adult to the best of their extent.

* Inability to control emotions and crying – This can be an important long term effect as an inability to control crying can effect work, job interviews, education, social groups and can also cause a low self-esteem.

* Anger, and hostility – This can get them into trouble later on in life if they struggle to keep angry outbursts to a minimum and not being explosive, rude or horrible to others.

* Depression and low self-esteem – Depression and low self-esteem can lead someone to having a lower quality life because they are not functioning properly in order to enjoy it to the best of their ability. It can also have other effects as it is a mental illness.

* Alcohol and drug misuse – This can lead to addiction, then spending money on alcohol and drugs is going to lead the individual into bankruptcy where they may resort to more drastic measures to find money and get another kick out of whatever drug they are on.

Long term effects of Self-Harm – Evaluation

* Injured tendons, nerves, blood vessels and muscles – This can lead to permanent muscle damage and that would cause a weakness. It can also lead to nerve damage which will then cause the hand to lose any senses and become paralysed.

* If a major nerve in your wrist is cut, it can leave permanent weakness or numbness in the hand, or both – This isn’t good because if it becomes too serious then that hand will be permanently damaged for the rest of that individuals life and probably mean lose of feeling and ability to control/use that hand.

* Chemical or acid burns can cause serious damage to the body internally – This is because it can seep through the skin and poison you from the outside in, it can also be done in the form of an overdose if a dangerous amount of the acid has come into contact with the skin then it can cause burns and blisters.

* Head banging can reduce reaction time and the flexibility of thinking – This can damage your cognitive thinking for the rest of your life and if repeated then it could most likely cause mild brain damage.

* Over-dosing can weaken the liver and kidneys - If you ingest more than a certain amount of a drug, such as paracetamol, then that is when it will start to damage your liver where it will be irreversible and permanent damage will be done. This can after you later on in life as your body will only be able to tolerate certain things.

* Permanent nerve damage – This can cause loss of feeling to any part of the body meaning it would become inoperable.

* Weakened bones/joints from breakages – This would mean a reduced amount of mobility and agility as it will be painful and difficult to be so.

* Hair loss and bald spots – This doesn’t have following physical effects but can cause low self-esteem and depression from social isolation.

* Internal damage of digestive system from poisoning – Lack of useable organs that function properly for either a short while, or a long time.

* Depression and anxiety – this can link in with psychiatric disorders, disfigurement, and social isolation as they can all cause low self-esteem and confidence issues.

* Psychiatric disorders

* Disfigurement

* Social isolation

* Permanent weakness or numbness in certain areas of the body – This can mean less of a chance to be able to be physically active whenever suited.

* Loss of limb – “ “

* Multi-organ damage and/or failure – This can cause major concerns because if two or more organs start failing at the same time then it is less likely to be salvageable.