Domestic abuse is a serious issue that affects millions of families and individuals all around the globe. Many cases go unreported due to the victim’s fear of possible repercussions, shame or hopelessness – the psychological impact of domestic violence is immense. When we speak of domestic violence, we are not just referring to instances of physical violence – domestic abuse can be emotional and psychological too.
If you were born into cycles of abuse or have lived with them for so long they have become a part of your daily existence, it can become increasingly difficult to distinguish between what’s normal or not. If you’ve never experienced a healthy relationship with your spouse or don’t know what it means to have nurturing, supportive parents, there’s a high risk of you developing negative thought patterns that seem to want to convince you that this is the home environment you deserve, that there is no alternative. The fact is everyone deserves a loving home environment – don’t let yourself fall victim to repeated cycles of abuse. Take action and start your future today.
Anyone Can Be Affected
The statistics of domestic abuse speak for themselves, and with so many cases going unreported due to common factors such as fear, shame and stigma, it is hard to imagine how many of the affected have gone through life without support. According to an official police report, domestic abuse went up by 1% between 2016/2017 according, with 47% of the incidents including a crime of offence being recorded. The statistics show that in 42% of the cases the incidents occurred in the victims’ home, and 79% of the victims were women. Reports were also most likely to occur during the weekends with the highest percentage of incidents taking place on Saturday and Sunday, presumably fueled by alcohol and substance abuse.
In more than a third of these incidents, nearly 63.7% said that children were present at the time and 75.3 witnessed what happened. More frighteningly still, 18.8% were directly involved in the incident and 26% of the children experienced emotional and psychological effects as a consequence. The most commonly reported psychological effects include low self-esteem, weight-loss, anxiety, bedwetting and difficulty sleeping. Don’t let your family or people you know become a part of these statistics. If you are currently reading this article and fear your abuser may be controlling your computer’s user history, click Ctrl and the letter “h” at the same time and delete this article from your browser to avoid possible confrontations.
Make a Safety Plan
Many survivors do not leave their abusers for their own personal reasons, whereas others may find themselves victim to the onsets of emotionally abusive behavior and are not yet sure whether they want to involve outside institutions or the police. Either way, it is important to make a safety plan in case of an emergency. You never know when things might escalate, and you’ll want to be prepared should the moment arise – especially when there are children involved. Keep a few designated, backpacks, totes or maxi bags filled with random bits of importance – comforting toys for the kids, passports, a change of clothes and money. Don’t go overboard. A packed suitcase is difficult to hide and you don’t want to raise suspicions in an already tense situation. Keeping your things spread between different daily-use bags is easier and will raise less alarm in unsuspecting children.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
If you, a friend or a family member is experiencing abuse at home, know that you can seek support and escape your situation by contacting dedicated charities, help centers or local authorities. Made up of a team of experts who will treat your case with the sensitivity it deserves, these help centers will advise you on your best options and support you regardless of which decision you make. Most importantly, support services may offer the necessary after-care as well. This is an area of crisis-support that is often overlooked in cases of domestic violence, and yet it is vital that victims are continuously supported during their healing journey.
You Are Not Alone
These are the best organisations in the country but there are many more like them who’s doors and helplines are always open to you. You are not alone in your plight against domestic violence – whether you are experiencing it personally or are supporting a friend or family member – and this list of charities proves just that. Don’t fight this battle on your own, the support services and charities are there to help.