Domestic violence is a growing issue in the United States that is legally defined as violent acts committed by one family or household member against another. This can refer to spousal or child abuse and can be physical, emotional, psychological, economic and/or sexual in nature. Domestic violence victimization can have lasting effects on both the immediate victims and the witnesses, including adverse psychological disorders like depression, dissociation (numbing of emotion, loss of connection to reality) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapy can be helpful to treat the lingering psychological problems of domestic violence victims and witnesses of any age, and to help them to reintegrate into a healthier, safer lifestyle.

Getting out of a volatile domestic violence situation is extremely important. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can help 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233.