Below another small piece from the book Enough on domestic violence and abuse. Note that there is some good reading and tips in the book to help victims find their way to start the healing journey.
Abuse and trauma have far-reaching negative effects on the human body, especially when the trauma is prolonged. The most widely noted are the immediate emotional effects of abuse. Emotional wounds heal slowly over time with effective counselling and therapy. When left untreated, they effects can give result in very bad outcomes. If you are in an abusive relationship or have children exposed to abuse, the effects may be devastating.
Held captive by their fears, victims often face neglect and isolation, and struggle to trust anyone, including themselves. This can escalate into lifelong challenges, such as low self-esteem, and difficulty forming new relationships. Victims also have an increased risk of developing an addiction to drugs, alcohol or self-harm in an attempt to alleviate their emotional pain. This creates a vicious cycle, a repeated pattern of being tortured over and over again by the same emotions. Instead of facing and dealing with the trauma causing these symptoms, to start the healing process, victims fall deeper into the darkness of their trauma.
Victims often suffer from mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive mood disorders, and attachment issues. They tend to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies. In some cases, victims who were abused as children have learning disorders, poor language skills or low cognitive development. Some victims suffer from developmental delays, eating disorders or physical illness. Victims of abuse, especially victims of child abuse, often also experience aggression, violence or irritability and, in severe cases, turn to criminal behaviour.
Children from abusive situations may grow up to be adults with buried emotions and PTSD, eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, guilt, learning disabilities, physical illness, disturbing memories and dreams, and dissociation. Adult survivors struggle to find the balance of a normal, healthy relationship, and need counselling to start and maintain a good relationship. We discuss psychiatric disorders, syndromes and depression more fully in Chapter 7.
If you are struggling with any of these symptoms as an adult, it might be the result of some form of child abuse and suppressed memories. There is, however, hope for every victim of every age group, regardless of when the abuse occurred. The important thing is to take the necessary steps to recovery discussed in Chapter 9.
Unfortunately, in some cases, the result of abuse is death. All over the world, women are dying, murdered by their spouse or partner. In some cases, the relationship is short-lived. The victim steps out of the relationship or marriage only to find herself trapped by the abuser, regardless of a protection order or seeking help from the authorities. Others are trapped for years in abuse that escalates to murder. Some give up hope and commit suicide.
There is no easy way out of an abusive relationship. The important thing is to learn how to protect yourself.
And then I just want to say. I love you, my female friends and readers. Keep strong and believe in yourself. You will overcome and walk out stronger. I believe in you. Stay safe and don’t act without your full escape plan in place. Love and Light. Me.
Tags: domestic violence, mental health, ptsd, sexual abuse, women in pain