When someone is abused as child, it can be very traumatic and affect them in a really big way. Abuse is NEVER the child’s fault, and it does NOT mean they will become abusive when they are older. In fact, a lot of people who experience abuse when they’re younger decide that they never want anyone else to be abused like they were.

It is true that some people who are abused as children will use abuse when they are older (as will some people who weren’t abused). A bad childhood is not an excuse for using abuse. It could be that the person is unsure about how to deal with their feelings, and tries to take it out on someone else. If someone was in this situation, they should admit that they are using abuse and talk to someone about it at a Teen Clinic, a counselor at school, or call the Klinic Crisis Line at 1-888-322-3019.