Dealing with Abuse
Abuse is a violation of one individual by another and can take many forms, e.g. physical, sexual or emotional abuse. It occurs in all walks of life and is not any more prevalent in one social group over another. Abuse occurs to all age groups from children through to the elderly and can have long standing effects.
Often abuse, created through a coercive and controlling relationship based on fear tends to take place within intimate relationships in communities, families or at work. The trauma of abuse has many psychological affects including:
- Inability to trust
- Difficulty in making and maintaining relationships
- Feelings of guilt, shame, anger, self-loathing,
- Lack of confidence and low self-esteem
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
- Addictions
Step approach to dealing with abuse:
- The first step is to acknowledge that you have suffered or are suffering an abusive relationship. You do not have to put up with it.
- Abusers will try to manipulate you to keep what is happening a secret. This helps to perpetrate the abuse by making you feel alone and powerless. Speak to someone you trust about what is going on.
- Many people who have been abused find it difficult to talk about their experiences. Finding a counsellor/psychotherapist who can offer a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space to work through your experiences and associated trauma, could help you to begin to make sense of your thoughts and feelings and move forward.