Spousal abuse can occur at any time throughout a marriage by either husband or wife. Spousal abuse can be anticipated or it can be unexpected. It can leave both emotional and physical scarring on the victim. Any type of abuse has harmful effects on the victim and abuse of any kind should not be tolerated. Getting out and getting help is essential in finding peace of mind and safety.
Types
There are two main types of spousal abuse: physical abuse and emotional abuse. Physical abuse involves psychically harming your spouse. Sexual abuse is another form of physical abuse. This occurs when you physically force or coerce your spouse into sexual relations. Physical abuse can be any type of hitting, smacking, pinching or inflicting physical harm upon your spouse. Emotional abuse involves verbal abuse, dominance, humiliation, threats and intimidation, notes HelpGuide.org.
Identification
If you are a victim of spousal abuse, you may know right away that you are being abused, especially if it is physical. On the contrary, if you have been in a controlling relationship for a length of time, you may not recognize the blame, control and isolation as abuse. You can be just as easily abused with words as you can with his fist. Mental anguish caused by emotional spousal abuse can last a long time.
Considerations
If you are a victim of any type of spousal abuse, the effects can be devastating and your self-esteem and self-pride can take a harsh blow. Seeking therapy will help you cope with trauma caused from your spouse's attacks. PsychCentral explains that most forms of psychotherapy help the victim focus on problem solving and working towards a specific goal in recovery. Coping mechanisms will help you get through the recovery process and start healing emotional wounds.
Effects
The effects of abuse in a marriage can be devastating but should not be ignored. The University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago states that unless help is initiated through counseling or psychotherapy, troubling effects can present themselves. This includes post-traumatic stress syndrome, poor self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, irritability, nightmares, avoidance, depression, anxiety and isolation.
Warning
Spousal abuse is nothing to be taken lightly. The National Institute of Justice states that approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of domestic abuse in the U.S. each year. Spousal abuse can easily and quickly escalate to violent behavior. The consequences include being arrested, having children bear witness to assault and in some cases death. If you are a victim of abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide you with local resources in your area.
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