Impacts of Domestic Violence
The impacts of Domestic Violence are extensive and very concerning.
Some of these impacts include:
- Death, illness, injury and disability of the victim
- Bruises on the body
- Bruises on or around the eyes or neck
- Sprained or broken wrists
- Broken or fractured bones
- Chronic fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle tension
- Involuntary shaking
- Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
- Gut health issues
- General health problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Menstrual cycle or fertility issues in women
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts
- Depression, including prolonged sadness
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem and questioning sense of self
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Feelings of shame
- Feelings of anger
- Hopelessness
- Low self worth
- Apprehensive and discouraged about the future
- Inability to trust
- Inability to form positive or healthy relationships
- Questioning and doubting spiritual faith
- Feeling unmotivated
- Witnessing abuse and normalising this behaviour
- Ongoing Anxiety and depression
- Emotional distress
- Eating and sleeping disturbances
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach aches
- Finding it hard to manage stress
- Low self-esteem
- Self-harm
- Being aggressive towards friends and school mates
- Feelings of guilt or blame towards themselves for the violence
- Having trouble forming positive relationships
- Developing phobias and insomnia
- Struggle with going to school and doing school work
- Use bullying behaviour or becoming a target of bulling
- Difficulty concentrating
- Find it hard to solve problems
- Have less empathy and caring for others
- Homelessness
- Isolation – from children, family and socially – further resulting in mental health issues
- Repeated cycles of abuse – a victim may continue to enter abusive relationships or become a perpetrator themselves
- The victim or witnessing family members living in a constant state of fear – causing psychological and physical harm (to general health)
- On going violence, or the threat of violence
- Frequent moving to avoid being located by an abuser
- Regular Household conflict
- Police involvement
- Criminal court proceedings
Sources: Family and Community Services, 2019 – Joyful Heart Foundation, 2019