As a parent, it’s pretty to worry about your kids on a daily basis. However, there are definitely some situations that are more concerning than others.
One woman recently explained in a Mumsnet discussion that she was very worried about her five-year-old daughter’s behavioural changes, and many people said that it sounded like she may have been sexually abused.
“Over the past month we have seen an alarming switch to ‘manic and aggressive’ with intrusive thoughts,” the mum wrote.
“Manic meaning fidgeting constantly, running everywhere, talking nonsense, not listening or trailing off in the middle of sentences and beginning a new conversation, unable to sleep, impulsive behaviour (stealing food from others’ plates).
“Aggressive being shouting, swearing (in the ‘child’ sense, think ‘shut up,’ ‘stupid,’ ‘hate you!’), being violent to myself and her father, going from 0-100 (in terms of calm to raging) and not being able to calm down once she is up a height. She has also kicked the cat in her rage. We have told her we will get rid of him if we even think she might do that again, for his safety.
“Intrusive thoughts are mostly about private parts (I'll spare you the details) but essentially the growing realisation that everyone has them, and that she wants to look at everyone’s all the time. Or saying that she is ‘thinking about private parts’ all the time.
“She’s also making up horrible songs/rhymes in her head (and telling us, in guilt) that she can't get out. She’s asking us constantly if we are going to ‘tell on her’ for every little infraction and believes the police/school are going to get her if she does anything wrong.
“The worst ones are the things she has come out with such as ‘I want to punch someone to death with my hands’ and thinking the recent fire in London was ‘really funny.’”
Many people commented on how it sounded like the young girl may have been sexually abused in some way, and the NSPCC agreed with this theory.
“The way the parent describes their child’s behaviour is a real cause for concern,” Emily Cherry, of the NSPCC told The Independent. “Sudden, unexplained changes in the way children are acting can often be signs of abuse or bullying.
“Most children go through a phase, particularly in their early years, of becoming fixated on genitalia, and this can be a normal stage of development. But when that is combined with other really noticeable behaviour changes it can be an indication that some form of abuse has either happened or is happening.
“A particularly worrying sign is that the child is fearful of being told on to teachers and police. Abusers will use fear, shame and guilt to silence their victims and prevent them from speaking out.”
The NSPCC highlights the following as causes for concern in a child's behaviour:
- Aggressive mood swings (particularly in young children)
- Bed wetting/soiling themselves
- Urinary infections
- Eating disorders
- Problems sleeping
- Genital area soreness
- Using sexual language or information you have not talked with them about sex and relationships
- Becoming withdrawn
- Avoiding or becoming fearful of seeing particular people, places or situations
- Being aggressive
- Self harm and suicidal thoughts
