An important consideration in helping a child who has suffered abuse is what the perpetrator did to try to stop the child from telling anyone. This includes convincing the child that they will not be believed (or will be punished) for telling, and threats of torture or death (aimed against the child, the family, or the child’s pet). In the immediate aftermath of abuse it’s important to help children deal with, 1) how he/she feels about him/herself, and 2) the symptoms he/she has to deal with (e.g. nightmares, physical pain, acting out, insomnia, and huge emotional problems). The intensity (and time duration) of the symptoms mainly depends on how the child is treated after the event (shamed, believed, ignored, threatened, protected, or handed over for more of the same).
