Domestic Violence: A Brief Summary And Analysis

Domestic violence has been an ongoing battle for many years. Writer Alexis Jetter refers to domestic violence as having an “insidiously long half-life” (2013). This means that even though the violence has stopped, the effects can go on 5, 10, 15 and even 20 years later. Many women are either overlooked at the emergency room or are too ashamed to get treated. This leaves women with many physical health problems but unfortunately problems can also be emotional and spiritual. No matter the financial status, living situation, education levels, or nationality, all women can be affected by domestic violence. Domestic violence is often undiagnosed because health care professionals are too rushed in emergency rooms or damage is not visible. Medical costs due to domestic violence cause ranges from $25 billion to $59 billion annually; Jetter (2013) takes a look at the long-term effects of domestic violence and the statistics behind it.

Many women who have faced domestic violence can have post-trauma stress disorder. Jetter’s reffers to a 47 year old woman who spent 14 years working with a trauma therapist to work on her post trauma stress disorder at night. She still remembers the sound of her skull hitting the walls and the black holes

in her memories (Jetter, 2013). According to Furlow(2010), the threats or violence that are used to coerce and terrorize the victim is an emotional trauma that can show up less rapidly like chronic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many studies showed the mental health-care professionals do not routinely question the possibility of domestic violence. (Howard et al., 2010 ) These women are being overlooked by professionals instead of getting the opportunity to get help for what they have had to face.
Ineffective health maintenance can be a major obstacle for domestic violence victims. A victim from Jetter’s article who is now 48, spent many years in her 20s wearing turtle necks and covering her bruises(Jetter, 3013). Her first husband chocked her so hard that twice she lost consciousness. Most victims will not get the help they need and can face many physical problems down the road.(Jetter, 2013) Leslie now has arthritis in her shoulders, hands, ankles and joints from the 20 year old damage her husband did to her (Jetter, 2013). Even though the violence has stopped, the pain can linger on many years. Women who are in abusive homes usually do not have annual physicals or may notice different pains on their body because they think it is from a violent episode but really it may be an underlying disease. If a woman is ashamed of the abuse they will not seek help allowing health problems to go undiagnosed. According to a survey in Alexis Jetter’s (2013) article, only 24% of respondents ask about having experienced abusive behavior in an exam. This means only a small percent of women were able to get treatment for the underlying conditions from an abuser.
Lastly, domestic violence patients can also be at risk for spiritual distress.

A person establishes their spirituality through internal and external factors like discovery, this gives the person existence (Drumm et al,.2013). One of our needs in nature is to have the idea that it is necessary to hold onto something (Drumm et al,.2013). During violence, spirituality is used as a resource for coping with their surroundings (Drumm et al,.2013). If a woman is in spiritual distress then they may lose their need and not be able to cope. Many turn to a spiritual resources to give hope or faith that they will overcome their situation. If a woman is in spiritual distress, they can give up trying to leave or fix their current situation of

violence.
Asking more questions about violent episodes is necessary because physical abuse has been an important epidemic for many years in health care. Every day patients are asked about their history including surgeries and illness. Jetter makes a good point about knowing any violent episodes that could have injured a patient in the past is an important part of an exam. A woman who comes in may have recently been impacted in the back. Today a patient is experiencing many symptoms which can be diagnosed faster if the professional knew for example that they were struck where the kidneys are located last month. Health care professionals would be able to get them the help they need faster than testing different theories which could endanger the patient.