Domestic abuse can often come with chronic stress, anxiety, depression, fear, shame, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Once a survivor suffers from these harms, an abuser might use them to question a survivor’s sanity and further control their access to mental health help and protections. An abuser might also use gaslighting, or questioning perception or sanity, to emotionally abuse. These harms can impact concentration at work, relationships with children, healthy adult relationships, and ability to be resilient.
Loss of feeling in charge of one’s life — or agency — is a common significant loss from domestic abuse. Agency is associated with a connection to one’s gut feelings and needs. Loss of agency can mean struggles with taking care of basic needs like eating and sleeping and protecting oneself.
Without healthy coping mechanisms for handling stress, children suffer significantly from domestic abuse. Their sense of safety and inability to feel seen becomes impacted by domestic abuse at a time when their development may require risk-taking and validation.
Through therapy, those harmed by domestic abuse can process emotions, explore beliefs, identify strengths, and gain coping skills, problem-solving skills, confidence, and resilience in a safe space so they can gain feelings of safety and control. Treatment might involve the development of safety plans, self-care plans, boundaries, and grounding techniques to cope with stressors.
Deb Falzoi
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