Is it true that if you got.... before youll act a certain way .?

Okay well I know somebody that got beat her living brains out before to point where it resulted to her hiding in her room and her doors being broke in and her almost being kicked out and she had a history of being beat but cant say anything cause if her parents end up in jail she'll be living on the streets and has nobody she knows who would take care of her but she always acts self consious ,insecure and rarely ever talks and seems kinda traumatized is that normal in her case . And how can I help her?