The impact of domestic abuse
The important distinction between domestic abuse and other forms of violence is not just the fact that the abuse is perpetrated many times but also that the abuse involves one person seeking power and control over another.
The effects of domestic abuse on victims can be severe and long lasting and can include:
- Permanent physical injuries - more women suffer physical injury due to domestic violence than because of car accidents or assault by a stranger
- Pregnancy related problem, including miscarriages
- Sexually transmitted diseases due to forced un-protected sex
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Flashbacks
- Low confidence
- Financial hardship - many victims are controlled financially, some having to leave employment because of their partners behaviour
- Lack of self-esteem
- Mental ill-health - up to 20% of users of mental health services are experiencing domestic abuse
Often when victims come to the attention of professionals they will have lived with violence or psychological abuse for many years. People stay for many reasons including fear, isolation, low self-esteem, lack of knowledge about the support they can get or because they believe that their partner might change.
Many victims feel responsible in some ways for the abuse and only tell someone about it or leave the relationship when they become worried about the effects on their children.
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