Psychological Trauma and Domestic Abuse
While it is an unpleasant thought, the images that come to mind regarding domestic abuse victims are often of people who have suffered physical injuries. What the general public is less likely to consider, however, is the fact that domestic abuse can also leave the sorts of scars that you can’t see. The pain of domestic abuse cuts deep, and a victim’s psychological state can be forever altered.
It is devastating to have a partner with whom you hoped to build a relationship and a life commit acts such as sexual, emotional, verbal, and/or economic abuse. Fear, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders are all possible outcomes. In the event that the victim continues to live with or comes in frequent contact with the perpetrator, the emotional trauma can intensify considerably.
PTSD Symptoms
While it is a diagnosis commonly associated with living through the atrocities of war, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a frequent diagnosis for victims of domestic abuse. Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Intrusive images
- Nightmares
- Being easily startled
- Flashbacks
Domestic abuse violates a level of trust that is difficult to repair, and so the accompanying problems can be very severe.
Contact Us
The psychological repercussions of domestic abuse can reduce a person’s quality of life to a disturbing degree. If you or someone you love has been the victim of domestic abuse, they need to seek professional help, but may also be helped by having the services of an experienced and compassionate Austin domestic abuse lawyer. Call the Law Offices of Slater, Kennon & Pugh, LLP, at 512-472-2431 for help today.