Impacts of Domestic Abuse
Experiencing any form of abuse is traumatic, especially for the survivor. Domestic abuse impacts survivors in many ways, including the individual's emotional, physical, and mental health. As discussed in this blog, abusive relationships also make a person prone to mental health disorders and other associated impacts.
Depression
As discussed in a previous blog called Domestic Abuse and its Forms, numerous types of abuse do not always involve physical abuse. Mental, verbal, and emotional abuse can cause harm and psychological damage. With these types of abuse, the person experiencing the abuse may be threatened, insulted, humiliated, belittled, and minimized. It is almost impossible to ignore such behaviours without experiencing pain and impairment in happiness, especially when the relationship between you and the abuser is strong and personal. The constant and intense stress of experiencing abusive behaviours can harm your mental health, increasing your chances for conditions such as depression. When you experience pervasive sadness, difficulties in concentration, changes in sleep patterns, and other symptoms of depression, it can significantly impact your daily life.
Eating Disorders
When experiencing mental, verbal, and emotional abuse, displaying dissatisfaction is a simple way of angering an abuser. Survivors of domestic abuse can easily conceal and repress their emotions and needs and may turn to harmful coping methods. This suppression of feelings is a negative method of dealing with them. It may also promote behaviours like eating disorders, which offer comfort and an immediate escape from suffering.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Having to navigate abuse is not easy. Over time, you develop harm and even trauma symptoms resulting from the stress and fear of anticipating an abuser's attitude, taking their insults, and accepting their coldness. Long-term effects of trauma may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You may experience recurrent memories of painful circumstances involving the abuse that may exacerbate anxiety symptoms like flushed skin or a racing heart. Seek out support if you believe you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD.
Loss of Self-Worth and Confidence
Domestic abuse, specifically mental and emotional abuse, impacts the core of your self-esteem, taking away your pride, joy, and trust. Feeling confident and good about yourself can be challenging when you are constantly being judged for your looks and accomplishments, and when you are misunderstood and ignored. The harsh words and mistreatment can also impact your self-worth if you take direct blame for your abuser's behaviours and emotions.Beliefs on RelationshipsRelationships that are unhealthy and abusive affect your interactions with others. Your experience with abuse negatively impacts a person's expectations when interacting with others .For example, relating, connecting, and trusting others may be difficult. A minor who experiencesabuse on an ongoing basis could view good connections as distant. They could have trouble communicating effectively with their caretakers and others.Increases.
Other Types of Abuse
There is not much that an abuser will regard as restricted if they think it is acceptable to change the victim's view of reality. You may have severe mental damage in abusive situations when experiencing victim-blaming, ignorance, and receiving insults. It's not unusual for someone who is psychologically and emotionally abusive to use physical violence as a means of control. Physical abuse may have more severe consequences, including temporary and permanent bodily harm. Thus, in an abusive relationship, the frequency and intensity of the abuse increase, often using new types of abuse.
Other Impacts of Abuse
The community is also significantly impacted by domestic violence, as are friends, family, coworkers, and other witnesses. Children who experience domestic abuse while they grow up make up those who are negatively impacted by this kind of offence. In addition to predisposing kids to various physical and social issues, frequent exposure to violence in the family teaches them that abuse is a normal part of life, raising the likelihood that they will become victims and abusers.
This domestic violence blog aims to educate everyone on the dynamics of abuse in intimate partner relationships, aid victims to comprehend their experience, and help victims' families and friends notice warning flags of abuse in their loved ones' relationships. Other than the side-effects of abuse noted above, there are also more impacts of abuse, and these include (but are not limited to):
-Anxiety.
-Suicidal ideation.
-Self-harm.
-Addictions.
-Financial instability.
-Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
-Damage to your personal development, impeding your ability to participate in society actively.
References
Government of Canada. (2021). Intimate partner violence and abuse. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/relationship-violence/intimate-partner-violence-and-abuse therapist.com team.
(2023). Abuse and domestic violence: How to recognize it and get help. Therapist.com. https://therapist.com/abuse/abuse-domestic-violence/ United Nations.
(n.d.). What is domestic abuse?. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse Wooll, M.
(2021, November 23). How to recognize mental abuse, and why it’s not your fault. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/mental-abuse#:~:text=Emotional%20abuse%20targets%20a%20person’s,person%20to%20question%20their%20environment