March 8, 2008
Connection Between Abuse & Mental Illness
Posted by evanlee21 under Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Sexual Abuse | Tags: abuse, crazy making, domestic violence, mental illness | “All i, seem to, think about is violence
It doesn’t matter if I’m dead sober or I’m bent
It’s strange, I’m not insane or at least I don’t think so
Or am i? you think so doc, truthfully I don’t know
I need a doctor to give me some therapy
I need a doctor to check my, my brain..”
Therapy by Heltah Skeltah
WHAT IS ABUSE?
Abuse: Patterns of violence, intimidation and threats used to gain control and/or compliance over another person. Aspects of abuse include: physical, sexual, emotional/mental, psychological and financial. Abuse is committed by one person who has power over the other, and exerts that power in harmful ways. Abuse can happen to people of all backgrounds and genders–socio economic, religious and cultural.
For More Information Visit: Domestic Violence (Myths, Safety Plan, Questions About Leaving, Resources, etc)http://www.domesticviolence.org
Halton Women’s Place (What Is Abuse?): http://www.haltonwomensplace.com/abuse.htm
What is Abuse in Relationships: http://www.dvirc.org.au/whenlove/infospace.htm
CRAZY MAKING
One tactic abuse is “crazy making”–when a perpetrator commits deliberate acts or manipulates to make a victim feel crazy, or to believe they are crazy. Feelings of disbelief, confusion and shame are all a part of crazy making. Crazy making can involve verbal abuse–threats, taunts, shame, blame, humiliation or name calling. Crazy making can involve physical abuse–coersion, retaliation. deprivation or physical harm. Often crazy making involves psychological tactics such as manipulation, stalking, isolating and acts that degrade or break down the self.
I found this song to be an of crazy making:
“You said: ‘You’re crazy, why do you keep doing this? Everything is fine.’ Then I think, I’m crazy I do this all the time Until I start to think that nothing’s even wrong [Chorus] Maybe I am Hiding in my own confusion Maybe we’re just A picture in my head Maybe what if it could be The way I wish it really was Maybe I don’t wanna see it The way it really is..”
The Way it Really Is by Lisa Loeb
For More Information Visit: Wearing Her Down, Understanding & Responding to Emotional Abuse: http://www.womanabuseprevention.com/html/wearing_her_down.html
Crazy Making, Some Disturbing Little Stories: http://www.dreamchild.net/caccrazemake.html
The Connection Between Abuse and Mental Health
Abuse can and will lead to varying degrees of mental and emotional decline. In many instances, a victim will not seek help or struggle to get help because they feel ashamed, that they are “crazy” or something is wrong with them or are afraid of the abuser. It may take a crisis before a victim seeks help–by then the problem is greatly exacerbated. In other instances, a victim may not be believed because they have a previous mental health condition or the affects of abuse present as a mental health problem. The affects of abuse on a victim can create a variety of problems from low self esteem, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, destructive behavior (eating disorder, promiscuity, addiction, self injury), sleep disorder and phobias. Advocates working with abuse victims will need to work alongside professionals and medical providers to ensure the victim receives the help they need. Advocates will also play a crucial role in getting the victim help–and recognizing that abuse is taking place. An advocate may be a person working at a shelter or it may be a teacher, family member, friend or religious official. It may even be you.
Facts on the connection between abuse and mental health
“Battered women are 4-5 times more likely than non-battered women to require psychiatric treatment. “ Violence Against Women Source: Tubman Family Alliance, http://www.tubmanfamilyalliance.org/need_help/being_abused/violence_facts.html
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“While that may seem like common sense, there is now a growing body of evidence indicating that experiencing abuse plays a significant role in the development and exacerbation of mental disorders and substance abuse problems, increases the risk for victimization, and influences the course of recovery from a range of psychiatric illnesses. Across studies of battered women, rates of:
(1) PTSD range from 54% to 84%
(2) Depression range from 63% to 77%
(3) Anxiety range from 38% to 75%
…Linking domestic violence advocacy with mental health and substance abuse service delivery is critical for the prevention of future violence and its sequelae.” –Domestic Violence & Mental Health Policy Initiative
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“About a quarter of U.S. women suffer domestic violence, U.S. health officials reported on Thursday, with ongoing health problems that one activist likened to the effects of living in a war zone…The CDC said women who suffer domestic violence are three times as likely to engage in risky sex and 70 percent more likely to drink heavily than other women. They are also twice as likely to report that their activities are limited by physical, mental or emotional problems and 50 percent more likely to use a cane, wheelchair or other disability equipment, the CDC survey found.These women also were 80 percent more likely to have a stroke, 70 percent more likely to have heart disease or arthritis and 60 percent more likely to have asthma.” Quater of US women suffer domestic violence: CDC by Will Dunsham (3/8/0 
http://www.stopfamilyviolence.org/ocean/host.php?folder=12&page=497
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“All women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence will need emotional support of some kind, but their needs will vary. All women need to be listened to with respect and without being judged when they choose to talk about their experiences.” In conclusion, if you are a victim of abuse get help. You deserve to be safe. You deserve to be treated with love and respect. Your life depends on it. It will take time to be safe again, to heal and rebuild you life–but have hope because the first step begins in believing that you are worthy of love, respect and a better life. And with those steps comes a sense of power and strength that will only grow. Even in your struggles, your value as a person, and in the soul God placed in your body, is not diminished. You deserve love, respect and safety. Believe that.
For Additional Information:
The Women’s Aid Site include a “Survivor’s Handbook”. Here you will find common tactics used by abusers who use mental health (threats, name calling, shaming, creating distress/anxiety/fear etc) as a weapon against victims. Also includes tips on how to communicate with service providers, who may not believe your disclosure of abuse because you are seeking help for mental or emotional issues. Also includes tips how to survive after abuse. http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-survivors-handbook.asp?section=000100010008000100360002
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Domestic Abuse Victims Bring Complex Issues to Treatement by Eve Bender. Psychiatric News (June 4, 2004, Volume 39, Number 11): Information on how affects of abuse may affect a victim’s mental health, coping skills and relationships with others. Information on how psychiatrists and other medical professionals can assist victims in healing and seeking help. Discusses common myths and barriers that prevent victims from being taken seriously or being recognized when reporting abuse while also dealing with mental health issues. http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/39/11/14?maxtoshow=&HITS=20&hits=20&RESULTFORMAT=&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&tocsectionid=Professional*&displaysectionid=Professional+News&journalcode=psychnews
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You Are Not Crazy-Listen to What Verbal Abuse Sounds Like
“…he masterfully charms everyone he meets, just like he did to her when they first met…”
Includes Information about Abuse, Charateristics/Behavior of an Abuser, Eileen’s Journal and More http://www.youarenotcrazy.com/
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Violence Against Women With Disabilities (Facts, Recommendations for Service Providers to Help Victims, Education and More) http://www.bcm.edu/crowd/?pmid=1344#facts
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Coping As a Non Borderline/Coping with BPD Loved Ones List of Resources and Information on Abuse, Borderline Personality Disorder, Relationships, Dealing with Stress, Depression, Anger and Shame and More..
March 10, 2008 at 1:29 am
That’s an interesting post. I’ve found a website that can be pretty handy for overcoming post traumatic stress. Might want to give it a try at http://www.howtorelievestress.org
March 15, 2008 at 4:12 am
[...] admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptLinking domestic violence advocacy with mental health and substance abuse service delivery is critical for the prevention of future violence and its sequelae.” –Domestic Violence & Mental Health Policy Initiative. http://www.dvmhpi.org … [...]
April 3, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Wow, what a great post! My daughter has been undergoing systematic verbal and emotional abuse by her father. I’m going to share this with her when she gets off work. She’s 16 and it hurts her so much.
June 12, 2008 at 9:18 pm
MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMER PROVEDER
I have personal experience with this subject. I was disabled, in treatment and receiving social security for five years. I joined a club house in Newton Massachusetts. After this I found a telemarketing job. A year and six months into this recovery I got a residential counselor working with individuals called mentally retarded. I slept overnight three nights an excellent situation for someone with depression. The agency had tuition reimbursement if you stayed on for a year. I took advantage of this and enrolled in the U Mass Boston Rehab Counseling program. I latter moved into a therapeutic community and worked as a counselor. Because I have dyslexia it took seven years to get my Masters. When I did I took a job with a Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) in central Massachusetts. I was able to advocate for clients and help them with a lot of problems. The psychiatrist and staff were supportive but my LD caused some problems with a clerical person. After four years I moved near Boston to take a better paying job with a PACT in Malden as a Vocational Counselor. The company Tri-City Mental Health Center (TCMHC) was merging with Eliot Community Mental Health (ECMH).
No one new I had a disability when I took the job. The manager saw I had the experience of being on an effectively operated PACT and they offered me an extra week vacation and a large pay increase. After taking the job I saw that clients were not getting services they needed like help with housing and jobs. I raised these concerns with Aaron Katz the program director but the response I got was that I shouldn’t bring up such issues. Soon the work place became hostile and I got the “you aren’t fitting in talk” from management. One manager M Mathews denied she offered me an extra week vacation. Then I got written up and a termination threat for late paper work. Some of the paper work was the program directors responsibility. I advocated for my self and asked for accommodations I am entitled to under the American’s with Disabilities Act. My request was denied by a Katz. But, when a client in crisis did not get help from management in a timely manner after I brought this to the managers attention I got blamed. I filed two grievances with the union but management ignored them.
Soon I was thrown out like the trash. I developed psychiatric symptoms and entered counseling. But I had to go without treatment. ECHS management contested my unemployment claim and refused to pay me for my last two weeks work. Because of all this I lost my health insurance and couldn’t continue taking medications or seeing a therapist, Now, I can not get a good job because I do not have a reference from my last employer. My health problems have not been treated and I am applying for Social Security Disability.
I found management’s main interest was in misleading the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health about how the PACT was operated. Ethical issues were not to be discussed. Dishonesty and hostility were the foundations of management’s practice. They treat counselors like dogs.
Signed,
Dog Meat
(A former ECHS consumer-provider.)
July 3, 2008 at 4:54 pm
When I was a child I endured severe trauma and abuse. I recently was diagnosed with Malignant Narcissism that is comorbid with a handful of other personality disorders, which basically add up to the modern day definition of a psychopath.
I’m not sad. I feel what can best be described as “all consuming rage” because a diagnosis like this will ruin my life.
I just felt like telling a stranger, that’s all.