Abuse can take many forms and involve a number of different behaviours. It is important that men and women know that abuse ONLY STOPS when you make the change. You cannot wait until the person to change as that glorious day may not come.
Here are some examples of abuse:
• Physical abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Financial abuse
• Cultural abuse
• Spiritual abuse
In most cases, individuals may not follow up with the abuse for the following reasons: it may not seem like abuse at the time, justifying/minimizing/excusing the behavior out of fear.
Gobind Wellness encourages all individuals to become lions and lionesses in facing their fears and stopping the vicious cycle of abuse. Chronic abuse can have damaging effects on ones overall health and wellness as well as on their children.
Effects of Abuse
The effects of abuse are serious and long-lasting. Some of the effects are:
• Anxiety
• Loss of self-confidence
• Dreams, flashbacks
• Feelings of panic and fear that appear suddenly
• Sleeping problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Withdrawal from activities
• Loss of ability to trust
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Acceptance of responsibility for the abuser’s actions
• Guilt and inability to express anger
• Addiction
• Keeping secrets, hiding emotions, and putting on a false face for others
• Emotional and physical illness
• Loss of sexual desire
Children Who Witness Abuse
Children who witness violence don’t all react in the same way. How they react will depend on their age, gender, and circumstances. The following are some commonly observed problems:
• Acting overly responsible (including high achievers who become adults before their time)
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, nightmares, bedwetting)
• Eating problems (under- and overeating)
• Sickness (stomach aches, headaches, nausea)
• Poor concentration
• Depression (sadness, withdrawal, fantasizing, lethargy, denial of feelings)
• Aggression (bullying, hyperactivity, anger, tantrums, especially in boys)
• Defiance (attention seeking, truancy, running away, substance abuse)
Healthy Relationships
A Healthy relationship incorporates basic rights for each individual:
• The right to have and express my own opinion
• The right to my feelings
• The right to live free from emotional and physical violence
• The right to privacy
• The right to choose my own friends
• The right to have and pursue my own interests
• The right to be treated with dignity and respect
• The right to say no to unwanted sexual activity
• The right to leave
• The right to know what is going on in terms of finance
#abuse #gobindwellness #counselling #lifecoach
