The Impact of Domestic Violence on Mental Health

According to psychiatrists, mental health is gravely affected by domestic abuse and violence. Although this can be perpetrated by either sex, most often women are the victims, especially in conservative societies like ours. The culprits are mostly in-laws and/or the husband in the majority of the cases. Domestic violence can take any form namely psychological abuse, forced intercourse, physical aggression as well as other controlling behaviours.

The negative impact of domestic violence can have physical, mental and emotional ramifications. In most cases, the basis of abuse lies in sociocultural norms such as dowry, child marriage, and normalization of violence against women.

In intimate partner violence, victims suffer from mental health disorders, anxiety disorder and PTSD. Moreover, the longer the duration of violence, the higher the severity of depression among patients. Even the children who witness such violence suffer from a horde of mental disorders in subsequent life—ranging from anxiety, aggression, depression and trauma-related symptoms. Such children also have academic difficulties later in life, with substance abuse, and high-risk sexual behaviour.

Compared to women with no mental health issues, women who do have psychiatric symptoms, are likely to have suffered from domestic violence in the past. Women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the chance of experiencing domestic violence is seven times more. Women with other mental health diagnoses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are also likely to have witnessed domestic violence. Similar was the trend in mental health disorders in men.

Short term impact of domestic abuse:

Short term effect of domestic violence is usually more physical with minor injuries—bruises, cuts, broken bones, injuries to organs. Sexual violence also has physical effects like vaginal bleeding, unwanted pregnancy, trouble sleeping, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Mental health issues:

Many emotions occur in victims of domestic violence. Fear, confusion, anger, numbness, guilt, shame. Many victims try to cover up the visible effects of violence with makeup or covering the bruises with clothes. Getting help for abuse in a timely manner can help prevent the long term impact of abuse.

Long-term impact manifests as:

Post-traumatic distress disorder:

Assault, or a scary experience can result in PTSD. The patient is startled easily, is tense, has difficulty sleeping, and even exhibits angry outbursts. Such patients also shut people out, and don’t even want to do things they once enjoyed.

Anxiety:

There is generalized anxiety disorder in patients who are victims. It can be anxiety about everything or about one thing in particular. If not caught and treated in time, it can perpetuate and worsen. It can even interfere with activities of daily living.

Depression:

Depression is a serious mental health disorder. The symptoms can include sleeplessness, or increased sleep, decreased appetite, avoidance of people, low self-esteem, inability to trust other people.

If you are experiencing mental health issues after the violence, then be sure to seek professional help. Book an appointment with a top psychiatrist in Multan, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.