Domestic violence can affect children and animals for life

A baby’s brain is like a flower, if it’s stressed, it wilts; If the flower is nourished, it blooms.

Those are the telling words used to open the film, Effects of Domestic Violence on Children. As our brains grow, they create a blueprint for every new experience we have, the sounds, the touches and the sights. We may not remember what happens to us as a baby but our experiences are forever etched in our brains and create the building blocks of our lives.

One might assume that the only ones who are affected by domestic violence are the physical victim and children that are old enough to understand what is happening. In fact, the younger a child is, the more sponge-like their brain is. This biological “sponginess” is the same thing that makes children as young s a couple of month old more vulnerable to violence. The younger the child, the more they are affected by domestic violence.

South Lake Tahoe law enforcement officers respond to hundreds of domestic disputes annually. They are trained to handle the situation with the adults as well as trained to help the children. Ashely Yuill of Live Violence Free, the South Lake Tahoe agency dedicated to survivors of domestic violence, offers training during the year on this with “Have a HEART,” a class aimed at first responders to the violence as well as others in the community.

In the world an estimated 275 million children are exposed to violence in the home. According to the Department of Justice there are 500,000 kids who law enforcement will encounter during domestic violence arrests in the United States. South Lake Tahoe is not immune to the situation.

In the recent Health Forecast released by Barton Health, 12.5% of those responding say they have been hit or hurt by a partner. While there are no figures for the number of kids involved in South Lake Tahoe, the survey gives a glance of what is occurring in the community.

Chronic exposure to violence
Exposure to domestic violence leaves a lifetime legacy.

Our brains develop from the bottom to top. The top of the brain depends on a healthy development of the lower part of the brain. The top of the brain can be modified through knowledge, counseling, and a change in environment, but if the bottom of the brain was affected by domestic violence and trauma, problems will occur. Violent outbursts and screaming will also affect children in the same way.
The brain shuts down when in fear and the child becomes chronically stressed, and those kids can end up with difficulties in future bonding and attachment because they are always in survival mode according to the movie.

The domestic violence doesn’t always have to be physical either. Violent outbursts and screaming can also cause damage.

-Children in a domestic violence situation are often labeled as difficult. Their natural defense mechanisms kick in due to their being in crisis mode. They end up not being able to learn.
-Surprisingly, children who are in a home with domestic violence end up with more mental health problems than those who directly experience physical abuse. They live in uncertainty, fear and chaos when exposed to violence.
-Life of a child in these circumstances is much like a roller coaster, they don’t know what is normal with the up and downs of living in a violent situation. The children develop unhealthy coping behaviors and affect how they’ll be a parent when an adult.
-Babies absorb what the parent is feeling no matter if they’re calm, engaging, angry, sad, happy. Older kids can learn that it’s not their fault when parents fight violently, but babies can’t do that.

The brain of a child becomes exactly what they are exposed to like a mirror of their experiences as they were developing. If they have a teacher, counselor or other caring, healthy adult in their lives, the young victims can see what is safe and normal. They see happiness, no rage, parents together, meals at the dinner table with good, calm conversations.

LVF offers several programs and support groups for children in violent situations. Their website has a full list of services including “Parent to Parent,” which is committed to healthy relationships between parents and children.

Early Exposure to Violence May Lead to a Lifetime of Problems
Children who experience childhood trauma, including witnessing incidents of domestic violence, are at a greater risk of having serious adult health problems including tobacco use, substance abuse, obesity, cancer, heart disease, depression and a higher risk for unintended pregnancy according to the 2008 study, The Facts on Children and Domestic Violence.

Children exposed to violence in the home are more likely to become adults that show violent tendencies or become controlling and in need of power over another individual.

In the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente’s Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego, they conducted an investigation to assess associations between childhood maltreatment and later-life health and well-being. The study found the more stress during childhood demonstrated increased health problems: alcoholism, alcohol abuse, depression, fetal death, illicit drug use, suicide attempts, and sexually transmitted diseases. The study also revealed that young victims have a risk of intimate partner violence.

In the diagrams in this story, it is shows what traumatic experiences can do to a child. Many of them grow up to be like the abuser in their lives because that what they do, mirror what it around them. They tend to seek power and control over others through a myriad of avenues.

Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse
Child and animal protection professionals have recognize a link between animal abuse and family violence.

Animal cruelty is one of the earliest and most dramatic indicators that an individual is developing a pattern of seeking power and control through of others according to the American Humane Society.

-52 percent of victims in shelters leave their pets with their batterers (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
-Up to 65 percent of domestic violence victims are unable to escape their abusers because they are concerned about what will happen to their pets when they leave (Carlisle-Frank, Frank and Nielsen, 2004)
-71 percent of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32 percent reported their children had hurt or killed animals (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
-Abusers of animals are five times as likely to harm humans.(Animal Legal Defense Fund)

Children in violent households, who have likely been abused themselves, represent one-fifth of domestic animal cruelty cases. When a child harms animals it can indicate that serious abuse has been inflicted on the child; consequently, animals are abused in nearly all households in which children have been abused.

Furthermore, children who witness animal abuse are at greater risk of becoming abusers. Many violent offenders committed childhood acts of animal abuse. .(Animal Legal Defense Fund)

Seeking Help
Live Violence Free is a resource for South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding communities with a 24-hour crisis line and therapy/counseling programs. If anyone feels concern for their safety, or the safety of others, call 911.

The agency offers a Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Counselor training for current and future Live Violence staff and volunteers. The training is open to the public, with a flexible 12 month volunteer commitment. “The classes are not only mean to prepare future Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Counselors, but also to educate the public and to give our community the tools to address violence in their everyday lives,” advises August Kvam, Grants and Program Coordinator. The next training will be held during spring 2016 and will be located at Lake Tahoe Community College.

“If someone has concern for a child, or knows someone in their life affected by domestic violence, call 530-544-4444, the 24-hour hotline,” said Kvam. She also said many programs are available with the agency and they are listed on their website, www.liveviolencefree.org.

Children can also reach out without parental consent starting at age 12.