A lot of parents worry about the outcome of their child custody dispute. After all, it can shape a parent’s relationship with his or her child for a long time to come. But sometimes the issues at hand are so severe that they pose a threat to your child’s safety and wellbeing. This is certainly the case when your child is exposed to domestic violence, which is why if you suspect that your child is being subjected to this behavior, then you may want to take immediate legal action.
How domestic violence harms children
Exposure to domestic violence can have serious repercussions for children who are exposed to it. In fact, each of the following impacts are possible if your child is being exposed to violent behavior:
- Long-lasting anxiety
- Depression
- Guilt over an inability to stop the violence
- Lowered self-esteem caused by excessive worry and guilt
- Sleep disruptions, including an increase in nightmares
- Anger issues
- Aggressive behavior
- Irritability
- Poor school performance and difficulty concentrating
- Physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches
- An increased risk of abuse and neglect
As you can see, there are a lot of ways that domestic violence can affect your child. So, if you suspect that your child is being exposed to this type of behavior, then you may want to keep your eyes and ears open for these telltale signs of exposure.
Take action to protect your child
As scary as it may be to have a child who is exposed to violent behavior, you can take action to bring it to a stop. This typically means filing a custody modification supported by strong evidence, such as police reports, witness accounts, and even your own child’s statements. That may sound like a stressful process, but an attorney who is well-versed in this area of the law can help you take swift action and build the compelling arguments that you need to argue for your child’s best interests.