But only about 25% of those who were abused turn into abusers. The other 75% all have different symptoms, some get the necessary help and use their abuse as a springboard to improve. Some deny it happened, some turn to addiction. Some turn to prostitution as a way of marginslizing the significants of the traumatic events
I feel like this is a misconception. If most survivors of abuse acted out, became drug addicts, or prostitutes-we’d have a lot more messed up people on our hands. I am not denying that a lot of survivors don’t act out- they do. But for all those people there are even more that just live normal lives- with extra pain.
I think behaviors people would have that would suggest they were abused: trust issues, fear of getting close to others. I would say survivors also tend to be more serious, sensitive, or emotional- tho that definitely is not a rule.
Also- some people live happy, fulfilling lives, and they dont let their abuse rule their lives. I for one never even think about my abuse unless the topic is brought up (and it’s been brought up a lot lately). This does not mean I’m in denial about what happened. It means I deny my past the ability to control my present.
For physical abuse survivors- i think a sure sign is fear of other people yelling, and fear of angry people. (obviously both in an extreme manner that is different then how others would react in the same situation)