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Effects of Domestic Violence on Adults
Each individual is unique; responses to trauma vary. Some effects you may recognize or experience are listed below.
Emotional
- Depression – feeling hopeless and helpless or emotionally numb
- Anxiety attacks
- Low self esteem
- Grief for family and personal losses
- Shame, guilt or self-blame
- Fear of the abuser or living without the abuser
- Confusion and trouble concentrating
- Anger
Behavioral
- Withdrawal
- Flashbacks and/or nightmares
- Avoidance of situations reminding the individual of the abuse
- Mood swings and difficulty controlling emotions
- Difficulty in obtaining, maintaining and adjusting to employment
- Jumpiness or agitation
- Self-medication – attempts to cope with or numb feelings with drugs or alcohol
Social
- Isolation from friends or relatives
- Difficulty in trusting others
- Stormy relationships
- Breakup of the family unit
- Court disagreements regarding separation, divorce or custody of children
- Seeking out new relationships to deal with overwhelming feelings of loneliness
Physical
- Sleep deprivation
- Somatic, or stomach, complaints, headaches
- Nervousness/Anxiety
- Chronic health problems
- Related problems to substance misuse
- Injuries or death resulting from physical abuse