Effective Ways to Rehabilitate Victims of Violence

Abstract

Of all of the types of violence that create victims, domestic violence produces the greatest number. Survivors worldwide often suffer from many traumatic effects, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep problems, trust issues, anger problems, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, phobias, dissociation, emotional numbing, self-destructive behavior, drug or alcohol problems, and difficulty accessing assistance from agencies. If untreated in children and adolescents, these effects can lead to a higher possibility of becoming an abuser as an adult, suicidal thoughts or attempts, persistent mental health issues, and chronic physical conditions, as well as problems with anger/violence and self-control. Contrarily, for children who witness intimate partner violence but are not physically abused, there is still a considerable chance of developing PTSD and other problems. Traumatic effects on victims can also extend into relationships with family, friends, and the community. An analysis of the traumatic effects of domestic violence against women conducted in 2014 noted a lack of literature on the effects of domestic violence on men, and little explored effects on transgender victims and non-binary populations [1]. Despite the substantial number of domestic violence victims and the severe trauma that can result, there are delicate issues to be resolved and barriers to overcoming these problems. Almost all victims are at high risk of not being believed by friends, family, or authorities, which is crucial to avoiding secondary trauma from the lack of acknowledgment and support. Many victims are even discouraged from pursuing assistance from agencies both directly and indirectly, which leads to the need for education and training on the realities of domestic violence for visible authority figures who can assist victims. Access to safe and affordable housing is one of the most urgent needs of domestic violence victims, as nothing about the survivor or her life is other than victimization without a safe home. All other needs, including mental health treatment, are secondary to this fundamental need. There is a strong necessity to ameliorate current affordable housing programs and procedures to create true safety and desirable assistance for survivors. Another need is the potential for self-advocate trainings for service providers and authorities that focus on the realities of domestic violence as well as the potential questions and ways to approach someone suspected of being abused. A training network would be beneficial for case studies of successful advocates in similar communities to be examined and learned from as part of the education [2].