Domestic violence survivors can face ongoing and challenging effects after enduring physical, mental, and emotional abuse.
The common physical effects include

• bruises,
• sprained or broken wrists,
• sexual dysfunction,
• fertility issues, etc.
  Domestic violence can have many mental effects too and although psychological impacts are harder to measure, this does not make them insignificant in any way. PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder is the most common complaint of victims which cause various symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, fear, panic. Victims also experience depression, anxiety, low self esteem, suicidal thoughts, alcohol and drug abuse. Not only is domestic violence and abuse a risk factor for psychological disorders, but women who have pre-existing mental health issues are more likely to be targets for domestic abusers. Children are also at an increased risk for emotional behavioral problems regardless if they were directly abused or not. The effects include fear, anxiety, poor academic performance, substance abuse.

Interventions for victims of intimate partner violence:
Interventions can concern different aspects of IPV: safety, lifestyle, short-term consequences, trauma processing, treatment implications, re-victimization, etc.
👉 First intervention strategy for batterers is mandatory arrest.
👉 Besides mandatory arrest, the most encouraging intervention strategies are the use of counseling and structured therapy in reducing the negative effects of abuse.
👉 A wide array of treatments for IPV victims includes extended counseling, therapeutic, and advocacy programs.
👉 Another approach aimed at IPV perpetrators is group cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. It focuses on learning non-violence and provides skills training (e.g., anger management, communication skills, assertiveness, relaxation techniques) to promote awareness of alternatives to violent behavior.
👉 Couples therapy or family therapy are also suggested to families who do not want to sever ties with each other rather are willing to look past their differences to build a happy home.

In situations of domestic violence, an abuser’s outburst is commonly followed by remorse and apology. But this “honeymoon” period usually ends in violence and abuse. This cycle means women are constantly anticipating the next outburst. Women in these situations feel they have little control, particularly when the abuse is happening in their own home. So we believe it is necessary to develop articulated programs for the psychotherapeutic treatment of these women, with the aim of preventing relapses.