by Susan E. Carr

Created on: January 25, 2010   Last Updated: February 15, 2010

Domestic violence impacts the victims in a number of ways, which are most often long term and involve both physical and mental health. Even though domestic violence is usually thought of as physical violence perpetrated against the victim, in many cases it can and is often related to psychological and emotional abuse, which, in the long run can have severe impact.   Very often victims of violence find themselves diagnosed with “Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome” (PTSD), which includes a variety of symptoms victims often experience.   

So what are the effects as they relate to psychological and emotional impact?  These effects can range from physical ailments, real or perceived, insomnia, hallucinations, emotional isolation from others, lack of emotional affect or numbing, nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety and depression, alcohol and drug dependence,  just to name a few.   “Stressors” that are triggered over time, and that are consistently repeated, as is likely in cases of domestic violence, can and do increase impact on the victims' long term ability to cope “normally” and to get and receive help.  As well, this syndrome is not easily recognized either by the victim(s) or others who may be close to them.   Persons with this disorder can become disoriented and disassociated as they continue to suffer from flashbacks and the re-living of events.  PTSD can also be accompanied by physical symptoms due to the constant anxiety that is often experienced.  These symptoms can include gastrointestinal disorders, chest pain, dizziness and immune-system disorders.

“Battered women syndrome” (not gender specific) has been used in the legal defence of women (and others such as children in these relationships) who have been abused to the degree of committing murder.  There has been much controversy regarding this defence but when one considers the long term indications of abuse and battering, and in some cases vulnerability to life-threatening situations, the need to defend themselves may become the only way out for some victims.   Very often the abuse “permeates” the family environment, making children more vulnerable to act out in violence.  One such case was R v Murray (2001 2Cr.App.R. (S) 5) in which a mother and son had been abused by the father for a number of years.  The son took

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