“How does seeing domestic violence affect children?”

Seeing domestic violence is a trauma. Witnessing trauma has lifelong effects on everyone, but especially the young developing minds of children. They can become moody, anxious, or depressed in the long run.

It is trauma and trauma has been shown to stunt the growth of the developing brain in children. So, learning can be affected. Trauma can affect a child's sleep schedule, cause night terrors, bed wetting, and hyper vigilance. They will often display protecting behaviors such as sleeping with the light on, checking doors and windows, making or collecting weapons. Trust issues arise, too, not only against the violator, but also with adults and their proxies that they feel failed to protect them.

Children that are in homes where there is domestic violence are at higher incidences of depression, anxiety, trouble in school and acting out as teen. It can actually change the chemistry of their brain even as infants sleeping and there is yelling in the house.

Domestic violence impacts all who hear/see and are directly impacted. Please read about the ACE studies, or listen to the TED TALK regarding the impact of ACE and later adulthood. We need to educate more people about the devastating issues that exist.