Abuse
Have you been affected by abuse?Are you experiencing any of the following or all?
Different types of abuse
There are distinct types of abuse and knowing what they are can give clarity to your experiences and situation:
Emotional abuse includes being spoken to in a disrespectful way, being bullied whether at work, school or home, having unreasonable expectations made of you, threats, controlling behaviour and being isolated.
Sexual abuse includes being raped, being forced to do sexual acts to take part in interactions against your will, being forced to watch sexually explicit materials.
Financial abuse includes being denied control over your own income, withholding of money and controlling of money in the household.
Domestic abuse, which includes domestic violence, can include verbal abuse, constant degrading and insults, continuously finding faults in a partner, threats, bullying, sexual abuse and physical abuse. It tends to occur in close intimate relationships. It exists across all levels of society and remained a “hidden crime’ for many years although today police and agencies have been given new, more effective policies to tackle it.
Children and adults who experience abuse are often traumatised by their experience and some can do on to develop PTSD. Abuse can overwhelm the perskon's ability to cope and leave them emotionally, cognitively, and physically overwhelmed. The circumstances of the abuse commonly include abuse of power, betrayal of trust, entrapment, helplessness, pain, confusion, and/or loss.The effects of abuse can range in severity from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, to PTSD and personality disorders.
Counselling and healing from abuse
It is possible to heal the wounds caused by these experiences and to be able to feel fulfilled and happy again.
Therapy offers a way of becoming free of the painful and damaging effects of abuse. It can carry a promise of hope and of a new and better life. It can enable you to find peace and freedom from pain, sadness and despair. It is a slow journey that requires patience and courage. It is a painful experience as there is so much hurt around the abuse. It means looking at the abuse which means having to face that pain. This can be hard as you have spent so much time and energy trying to forget it and a part of you will not want to talk about it and remember it. However to remember and to feel is wherein lies the freedom and growth. To confront and talk about it and reveal all the secrets surrounding it can lead to deep and lasting healing.
- Past memories of abuse, whether physical, sexual or emotional?
- Are you currently experiencing domestic abuse?
- Panic attacks and flashbacks?
- Feeling sad, anxious, withdrawn and isolated?
- Having difficulty relaxing and sleeping?
- A lot of anger and resentment?
- Are you having suicidal thoughts
Different types of abuse
There are distinct types of abuse and knowing what they are can give clarity to your experiences and situation:
Emotional abuse includes being spoken to in a disrespectful way, being bullied whether at work, school or home, having unreasonable expectations made of you, threats, controlling behaviour and being isolated.
Sexual abuse includes being raped, being forced to do sexual acts to take part in interactions against your will, being forced to watch sexually explicit materials.
Financial abuse includes being denied control over your own income, withholding of money and controlling of money in the household.
Domestic abuse, which includes domestic violence, can include verbal abuse, constant degrading and insults, continuously finding faults in a partner, threats, bullying, sexual abuse and physical abuse. It tends to occur in close intimate relationships. It exists across all levels of society and remained a “hidden crime’ for many years although today police and agencies have been given new, more effective policies to tackle it.
- Physical abuse such as: hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, misuse of medication, scalding, inappropriate restraint, hair-pulling.
- Sexual abuse such as: rape or sexual assault; sexual acts to which the vulnerable child or adult where forced to commit.
- Psychological or emotional abuse such as: threats of harm or abandonment; deprivation of social or any other form of contact; humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, or harassment; verbal abuse; prevention from receiving services or support.
- Financial or material abuse such as: theft; fraud or exploitation; pressure in connection with wills, property, or inheritance; misuse of property, possessions or benefits.
- Domestic Abuse - all forms of abuse can be experienced in a family setting by a partner, family member, or with someone with whom there is a relationship.
Children and adults who experience abuse are often traumatised by their experience and some can do on to develop PTSD. Abuse can overwhelm the perskon's ability to cope and leave them emotionally, cognitively, and physically overwhelmed. The circumstances of the abuse commonly include abuse of power, betrayal of trust, entrapment, helplessness, pain, confusion, and/or loss.The effects of abuse can range in severity from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, to PTSD and personality disorders.
Counselling and healing from abuse
It is possible to heal the wounds caused by these experiences and to be able to feel fulfilled and happy again.
Therapy offers a way of becoming free of the painful and damaging effects of abuse. It can carry a promise of hope and of a new and better life. It can enable you to find peace and freedom from pain, sadness and despair. It is a slow journey that requires patience and courage. It is a painful experience as there is so much hurt around the abuse. It means looking at the abuse which means having to face that pain. This can be hard as you have spent so much time and energy trying to forget it and a part of you will not want to talk about it and remember it. However to remember and to feel is wherein lies the freedom and growth. To confront and talk about it and reveal all the secrets surrounding it can lead to deep and lasting healing.