Millions of people live in abusive situations.  Millions more are recovering from the effects of abusive relationships.  Abuse in the form of domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse, emotional abuse, or other traumatic events have become almost commonplace in today's world.  We are all affected by this problem within our culture in some manner whether you are a victim, a perpetrator, or close to someone who is involved in an abusive situation.
 
Abuse is defined as one person hurting another sexually, physically, and/or emotionally when these behaviors are unwanted.  There are different degrees of severity of abuse ranging from name calling to more severe forms such as incest or mutilation.  Even though there are different levels of severity, all forms of abuse need to be taken seriously and all forms can cause psychological problems to the abused.  Abuse is not a psychological disorder though an abused person will often, but not always, develop emotional or psychological problems because of being traumatized.  Depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder are examples of psychological problems that can develop as a result of abuse.  People respond to abuse in different ways.  There is no right or wrong response to have following abuse.
 
Regardless of the type of abuse you may have suffered or are suffering; or the types of problems you have as a result of this trauma, it is important for you not to blame yourself for being abused.  Nothing justifies physical, sexual, emotional, or spiritual abuse of another person as a child or as an adult.  Victims of abuse, both past and present, do not have to suffer from this problem alone.  There are very effective psychotherapeutic treatments that can help you move beyond the emotional or psychological symptoms you may have as a result of being abused.  Health and Wellness Group can help.