Domestic violence causes profound harm to both the victim and family whether it is physical, emotional or financial. The damage lasts a lifetime if it is not treated. A high proportion of the victims and their children suffer from PTSD.
The violence includes verbal, mental and financial abuse as well as exposure to inappropriate material like drugs, alcohol and pornography. The perpetrator may be either male (more common) or female.
Thankfully there is a greater awareness of domestic violence now although the focus is on physical abuse much of the time.
And the awareness often ignores the impact on children who can hear the abuse, even if they are supposedly asleep.
Up until the 1970s domestic violence was considered to be a private family matter where the woman just wasn't servicing the needs of her husband enough and a man had “conjugal rights” over his wife. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that rape in marriage was defined in Australian law.
Women who have suffered domestic violence may have had their self-worth and confidence systematically and deliberately destroyed so that is becomes almost impossible for them to imagine being able to leave the situation.
“At least he doesn’t hit her” completely ignores the reality of how abusive controlling behaviour, stalking, threats and verbal abuse are. It is serious trauma
Too many people still feel that “it is none of my business” and so fail to offer help.
If you or someone you know is in this type of domestic situation, help is needed - both to get out of the situation and also to recover both physically and mentally.
As a specialist stress, trauma and PTSD hypnotherapist plus someone who has experienced both physical and emotional domestic violence, I have the empathy and experience to help you to resolve trauma – generally in 3-4 sessions with NO drugs and NO re-traumatising. This works so if you or someone you know needs help, just come and see me
