Spotting the signs and symptoms of danger, harm and abuse may help you to assist a person in crisis. For children and adults, there are certain "red flags" that indicate tension, stress, and fear; these signs and symptoms often point to some sort of danger, harm or abuse. In children, teens and adults, self-mutilation, or "cutting", can be a sign of extreme tension inside of a person. Often (but not always), the person who cuts her or himself may be trying to blank out emotional pain by inflicting a greater physical pain that blots out negative feelings. The sort of despair characterized by self-cutting is often linked with sexual abuse or other danger, harm or abuse. Scars or fresh cuts on the arms or in other locations of the body may be signs of self-harm.
In children, depression or withdrawal from social activities may sometimes, but not always, be indicators of problems; there are no absolutes with signs or symptoms of danger, harm and abuse. These symptoms can indicate trouble or danger at home or school. Bullying by parents, legal guardians, or schoolmates may leave a child shy, awkward, or (conversely) belligerent or angry. Getting at the root of problems may be as easy as talking to a child and trying to befriend them; sometimes, these sorts of children long to confide in other people, but (understandably) they lack trust. It may take time to break down barriers and find out what's going on. Obvious signs of harm, such as bruises, scratches, redness and swelling, should always be taken very seriously. While there may often be an innocent explanation for injuries, they may also indicate physical abuse.
In some cases, symptoms such as bed-wetting (in children) or nightmares (in adults) can also indicate serious problems related to danger, harm and abuse. More obvious signs of distress, such as frequent crying, drug or alcohol abuse (to numb pain), and inability to cope with everyday activities may also be a sign that a person is battling terrible obstacles due to the actions of another person.
In children, depression or withdrawal from social activities may sometimes, but not always, be indicators of problems; there are no absolutes with signs or symptoms of danger, harm and abuse. These symptoms can indicate trouble or danger at home or school. Bullying by parents, legal guardians, or schoolmates may leave a child shy, awkward, or (conversely) belligerent or angry. Getting at the root of problems may be as easy as talking to a child and trying to befriend them; sometimes, these sorts of children long to confide in other people, but (understandably) they lack trust. It may take time to break down barriers and find out what's going on. Obvious signs of harm, such as bruises, scratches, redness and swelling, should always be taken very seriously. While there may often be an innocent explanation for injuries, they may also indicate physical abuse.
In some cases, symptoms such as bed-wetting (in children) or nightmares (in adults) can also indicate serious problems related to danger, harm and abuse. More obvious signs of distress, such as frequent crying, drug or alcohol abuse (to numb pain), and inability to cope with everyday activities may also be a sign that a person is battling terrible obstacles due to the actions of another person.
