Depression And Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is an issue that is often kept quiet and rarely discussed. The topic can make some people uncomfortable when they have not experienced it. For those who have made it out of domestic abuse and survived, it is something they strive to keep others from having to go through. For those who have not been faced with domestic abuse always say “you chose that person”, “you keep going back”, and “why don't you just leave.” What some people tend to not realize is leaving someone who has not only physically abused you, as well as mentally and emotionally abused you is not always a simple task. In some cases, women have children with their abuser which makes fleeing the situation difficult and possibly more dangerous. Every 9 seconds a

woman is abused. 1 in 3 women will experience some form of domestic abuse in her lifetime. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of injury to women more than car wrecks, robbing’s and rape combined. Every day in the US more than 3 women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. Domestic violence which is also called intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic abuse or relationship abuse is a pattern of behavior that is used to gain and keep control over their partner. Domestic violence does not discriminate against any race, age or gender anyone can become victim.
The emotional toll domestic abuse can have on a woman or man can have a major impact on their life. It impacts their everyday activities some more then others. It may cause them to begin to miss work or lose focus in taking care of themselves. They can feel closed off to the world, embarrassed by what they've been through and scared that it may happen again. They close themselves off to people because they are afraid of going through that pain again. Domestic violence has been shown to cause depression. Emotional abuse can involve your partner calling you names, the abuser does not trust anything you say. The abuser is always wanting to know what you are doing and where you are. Your partner can act jealous, preventing you from leaving your home, damaging your property and blaming you for being the reason that they are abusive. According to a 2002 study from a Texas Council on family violence 74% of all Texans have either experience family violence themselves or have a family member or friend who has experience family violence.
Domestic abuse can have an effect on you mentally.

Studies have shown that victims of domestic abuse may suffer with PTSD (postromantic stress disorder). PTSD is a mental health condition that can be triggered by a traumatic experience. Domestic violence can also lead to depression. Depression is a common effect in a domestic violence victims. Depression is the feeling of sadness and loneliness symptoms can include prolonged sadness, feeling of hopelessness and changes in appetite with significant weight loss or gain. Loss of energy, loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Depression can affect a person’s outlook on life. Depression can have an effect on his or her thought process and ability to make decisions. In extreme cases of depression people can sometimes experience suicidal thoughts or attempts. Domestic abuse can have a strong mental impact on a woman mental abuse increases the trauma of physical abuse. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) 7 out of 10 psychologically abused women displayed symptoms of PTSD and depression. An estimated 10.7% of women have been stocked by their partner during their lifetime and half of the women in the US will experience psychological aggression by their partner in their lifetime. Over half the female and male victims of rape, physical violence, or stocking by their partner experience some form of domestic violence for the first time before the age of

25.
Domestic Violence can also have a physical long term effect on the victim. It can cause permanent scars, broken limbs that never healed correctly. Some women have had medical difficulties when they grow older such as arthritis, hypertension, and heart disease. These have been identified by battered woman was directly caused by domestic violence suffered early and their adult lives. Battered woman become embarrassed by the abuse that has happened to them and become distant from their loved ones to avoid embarrassment. Battered women sometimes have to relocate many times to avoid being found by their abuser. Domestic violence is the 3rd leading causes of homelessness among families. Moving so often can cause difficulty with employment, which can cause the family to not have necessary income. Women who are victims of domestic violence are 8 times more likely to be killed by their partner if there are guns in the home. Only 34% of people who are injured by their partner will seek medical care. The cost of domestic violence can be very high in the US alone $5.8 billion dollars per year are for direct medical and healthcare services. 1 in 4 women will be affected by domestic violence. In 2010, 8075 domestic violence incidents were reported to local police that's 22% a day and only 2600 of those 8075 incidents were attended to by police.
According to an article written by Alanna Vaglanos in the Huffington post “The number of American troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012 was 6,488.

The number of American women who were murdered by current or ex male partners during that time was 11,766. That’s nearly double the number of casualties lost during war.” Women are more likely to become victims of domestic abuse with 85% of domestic violence victims being women and 15% Being men. Too many women have fallen victim to domestic violence weather through physical abuse, emotional abuse, or mental abuse or a combination of all three. While there are many outlets for battered women they are not always accessible. Domestic violence is not an easy topic to discuss but if it is never addressed there will never be a way

out.