If you asked most people if they believed that domestic violence left a lasting impact on a victim’s life, they’d likely tell you that it doesn’t. Research conducted by the national nonprofit Futures Without Violence (FWV), however, shows that it does. They found that domestic violence victims are at a significantly higher risk of developing health problems than those who haven’t been subjected to such treatment.
FWV’s research shows that domestic violence victims often experience extreme stress. This causes them to develop debilitating medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma, chronic pain and heart disease at higher rates than others.
They also found that domestic violence victims also struggle more with reproductive health concerns than others. FWV’s researchers note that they have higher sexually transmitted disease rates than their peers. They also have higher rates of unintentional pregnancies.
Domestic violence victims also often experience mental health concerns such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. FWV’s research shows that individuals who have been exposed to domestic violence often experiment with drugs and alcohol more than others to cope with what they’ve been through.
Many of the health concerns that domestic violence victims are forced to deal with end up getting passed on to any children that they have. Research studies published in recent years have shown that kids who witness domestic abuse in the home tend to be more disobedient, angry, hostile or withdrawn than their peers. They even die sooner than others.
Children who are exposed to violence in the home also tend to have emotional deficits, especially as it relates to identifying negative feelings that someone may express. This makes them vulnerable to ending up in abusive relationships themselves.
Domestic violence can leave an adverse lasting impression on both you and your children. The amount of time that it takes for you to heal from the abuse that you’ve endured depends greatly on how poorly you were treated and for how long.
If you’re planning to leave your abuser, then you need to become informed about how to keep yourself safe from them here in California once you do. A domestic violence and neglect attorney can advise you how to protect yourself from falling victim to future abuse here in Riverside.