Abuse Hides in the Dark. Turn on Your Light.

Effects of Abuse


  • Domestic Violence Problems

    Domestic Violence Problems

    Domestic Violence Is a Bigger Problem Than We Realize Domestic violence is a bigger problem than we realized because it affects not only the abused person but that person’s entire social system (family, friends, colleagues, children, economy, etc.). We cannot afford to consider domestic violence as “just a family affair” like in the past. The disease of…

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  • Diagnosing PTSD with the DSM-5

    Diagnosing PTSD with the DSM-5

    Criteria Clusters in Diagnosing PTSD The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), tells us there are eight criteria for diagnosing PTSD. The three criteria that must be present for a PTSD diagnosis are: Diagnosing PTSD Criterion Cluster 1 Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one…

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  • I Didn’t Know It Was Abuse

    I Didn’t Know It Was Abuse

    One morning, while applying waterproof mascara, I looked into my eyes and saw it. Nothing. My eyes didn’t shine or pop; there was no light. Where did I go? Where was my soul? Fiery hot tears boiled in the corners of my eyes and rolled down my cheeks leaving their tracks in the pink blush…

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  • PTSD from Domestic Abuse

    PTSD from Domestic Abuse

    PTSD Affects 10 Percent of Domestic Abuse Survivors Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from domestic abuse affects a great number of abused and previously abused women. Women, in general, develop PTSD from domestic abuse more often than men in part because … women are more likely to experience trauma within established relationships or their traumatic exposures are more chronic than…

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  • Staying in an Abusive Relationship

    Staying in an Abusive Relationship

    Staying Is a Choice You Can Make Staying in an abusive relationship is a choice some of us make. But when you’re staying in an abusive relationship, you won’t find much support from your family or friends–if your abuser hasn’t isolated you from them–or even domestic violence helping agencies. People who would like to support…

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  • Is PTSD from Abuse Affecting You?

    Is PTSD from Abuse Affecting You?

    About 6 out of every 100 people, 6% of the United States population, will have PTSD at some point in their lives.1 PTSD resulting from domestic abuse is diagnosed in about 10% of domestic violence victims. Why so many? Domestic abuse is a trauma enacted by someone you’re told you can trust (the family unit…

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  • Depression Symptoms Show the Effects of Domestic Abuse

    Depression Symptoms Show the Effects of Domestic Abuse

    Depression symptoms and the effects of domestic abuse are eerily similar. Domestic abuse causes unhealthy thinking habits. Then the thinking habits become depression symptoms. Let’s explore several symptoms of depression followed by thoughts on how domestic abuse influences or causes those depression symptoms. It’s important to talk to your doctor about depression if any of the…

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  • I Left My Abusive Marriage: Why Am I Still In A Mental Fog?

    I Left My Abusive Marriage: Why Am I Still In A Mental Fog?

    I left my abusive marriage just like Susan, the author of the story below. Focusing on this part of her story is important because although staying in an abusive relationship isn’t easy, living after leaving one isn’t easy either. It’s wonderful to think that after leaving abuse life will go straight back to normal. But…

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  • Escaping Abuse Is (Always) the Best Thing to Do

    Escaping Abuse Is (Always) the Best Thing to Do

    Escaping abuse means turning your life upside down, but the trouble of escaping abuse is well worth it if you know what to expect when you go. Read my new post at HealthyPlace.com titled Escaping Abuse: 5 Things Your Therapist Won’t Tell You

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  • Hindsight Can’t Help Me But Could Help You Understand Abuse

    Hindsight shows me my mistakes in thinking. It shows me how my love for him blinded me. Maybe if you can see my hindsight before it happens to you, you’ll get OUT. I now understand that no choice he presented to me would end the abuse. I left the Army-abuse continued. Got pregnant-abuse continued. Doing…

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