Adults who have witnessed domestic violence as children or were victims of abuse are often treated later in life for what are ultimately the effects of the abuse rather than for the underlying causes. When we encounter someone who is depressed or struggles with addiction, we too often pose our questions from the wrong angle. We ask, "What's wrong with you?" rather than "What happened to you?"
Chronic distress, such as witnessing domestic violence, can actually cause structural changes in the brain altering brain development, which can lead to learning delays/disabilities and can even cause life-threatening health-related illnesses later in life such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and mental health issues.
[For more of this story, written by Raetha Stoddard, go to http://www.conwaydailysun.com/...ng-domestic-violence]
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