We cannot address physical and emotional symptoms if we don’t have a safe space to do so. When not addressed in a safe space, such effects manifest negatively long-term. Stress, anxiety, and fear manifest in many different ways. This heightened state can lead to fatigue, headaches, stomach discomfort, poor nutrition, insomnia, and sleep issues. We experience a sense of heightened anxiety. This often fosters a level of mistrust and the emotional connection to our parents is severely impacted.Īdditionally, the physical symptoms of abuse are beyond the actual incidents. Placing blame on one’s self is enabling to an abuser. One of the most detrimental symptoms is feeling at fault, as if we’re the reason for the fight. We become afraid of the abuser and scared for our own safety and for those we love. The most common reaction to abuse is fear. We absorb the anxiety and become a part of the system, often triangulated within it. Mentally, there is a psychological component that obscures the way we see relationships going forward. This is a vulnerable and fragile space to be in. Who do you side with? How do you protect your mother? How will your relationship with your father look? You may feel torn between two parents. It prematurely forces children into adult situations they are not equipped to handle. Witnessing physical abuse also adds a complex to parental relationships. As women, we must become aware of the impact abuse has on our own well-being. Human beings are after all, products of our environment and lived experiences. Sons tend to pick up habits from their fathers, becoming angry and lashing out on others. Daughters in particular may simulate the victim behaviors of their mothers. Abuse takes a physiological toll as we struggle to find ways to cope. When this behavior is normalized we become susceptible to becoming a victim of abuse. Watching our mothers being physically or mentally abused can create a pattern. To be placed in the middle of abuse makes us feel pulled, emotionally drained, frustrated, and angry. The experiences children face impacts them mentally, emotionally, and physically, carrying over into their personal relationships. In fact, witnessing abuse often links children to the continuous cycle of toxicity well into adulthood. Children often times suffer from the perpetualized consequences of abuse. Victims of abuse are not the only ones who suffer. We often hear “the culture is like that” or “that’s how they handle it in their family.” These common narratives normalize abuse rather than address it as a problem in need of remediation. Systemically, this abuse is a socially accepted generational pattern. ![]() Melanie Hassainĭomestic violence has been prevalent in the West Indian community for generations.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |