Whatever your relationship with domestic violence, it won’t be surprising to learn that domestic
violence (verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual) has been found to be positively correlated with
feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and sadness, and, equally as unsurprising, negatively
correlated with quality of life. Victims of intimate partner abuse consistently report symptoms of aloss of energy, agitation, restlessness, and a complete loss of self-confidence and worth.
Are you feeling hopeless?
These symptoms are often results of common practices of domestic violence such as forceful isolation. Has your partner ever looked through your personal belongings only to use what they’ve found against you? Have they forced you to remove people from your life? Did they make sure to watch as you did? Has your partner tried to convince you that the love they offer is the best you’ll ever get? Do they insist on their presence of all of your whereabouts? Try to convince you that you’re in need of their protection? All of these tactics are intended to make you feel unsure of yourself, and consequently we grow to distrust our own judgment, we begin to believe we’re incapable of living without our partners. The good news is that there is hope in knowing that you are not alone. Here at Intended Hope, we have the team and resources to lift you out of this dark place. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and we hope to give you the tools and courage to pursue it.
Are you feeling angry?
Don’t feel guilty for being angry. You might be angry with your abuser, with your close family and
friends, the world, or even yourself. The reality is, this is more than just a bad relationship. This is a
destructive one. One that physically, emotionally, and mentally damages us in more tangible ways
than most people realize. If you find yourself having emotional outbursts at work, being irritable and
snapping at people expressing concern, or engaging in substance abuse, self-harm, or other reckless
behaviors, remember that these things do not make you a bad person. And they certainly do not
make you less worthy of love or support. You can’t be blamed for being angry, it’s probably the most
natural emotional reaction to the abuse you face. Intended Hope hears your anger and feels it with
you. Our team hopes to serve as a resource to escape your suffering and anger. We want to throw
you a life vest and swim with you back to shore.
Are you feeling sad?
A truly horrible reality of domestic violence are the emotional consequences of such trauma.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, “being a victim of domestic violence is linked to
insreased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and suicide.” Verbal abuse tends
to accesorize the physical abuse we face, and a common result is an internalization of those vile,
untrue things they say about us. It is so easy to believe the lies our abusers feed us because it oftenoffers a reason why this could be happening to us.
If the lies told are true, then the reaction warrantsthe crime. Victims of domestic violence often adopt this mentality and thus struggle to develophealthy new relationships. Even after enduring abuse, victims experience emotional isolation andincreased depressive symptoms. Intended Hope is here to share your grief, sadness, and anger, andhelp you live the full and happy life you deserve.