Can abuse cause mental illness?

As a mental health clinician, I can state with certainty that most clients I have treated are victims of some form of abuse, whether verbal, emotional, physical, sexual abuse or childhood neglect. Parents can inflict abuse, partners, peers, bosses, colleagues, strangers, and even friends. Intimate partner violence or domestic violence is a common form of abuse where a romantic relationship is based upon dynamics of power, control, and abuse instead of values of mutual respect, equality, and safety. Bullying is another form of abuse rampant in schools and experienced by many children and adolescents at epidemic levels and is increasing with the widespread use of social media and the internet.

The fallout of experiencing acute or chronic trauma or abuse can result in a wide range of symptoms of psychological and emotional problems, health issues, attachment or relationship problems, and low self-esteem or identity issues. Abuse can cause or contribute to depression, anxiety, PTSD or other trauma-related disorders, bipolar, eating disorders, psychosis, dissociative disorders, personality disorders, and substance abuse. In other words, the impact of abuse can manifest in a variety of different forms based upon the intensity of abuse, length of abuse, relationship to the abuser, and protective factors or buffers. Protective factors, such as a good support system, an outlet to openly process the abuse, healthy coping skills, help boost resilience in the survivor and foster continued growth and development.

The survivor of abuse might develop maladaptive or self-destructive coping skills in reaction to the abuse experienced. Some survivors might self-medicate by taking drugs or alcohol to numb painful emotions or escape traumatic memories or ongoing abuse. Other survivors often internalize abuse forming negative core beliefs, such as I don’t deserve love or flawed, and there is something wrong with me. Survivors might also suffer from low self-esteem, engage in self-harm, or even attempt to end their lives. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For many survivors of abuse, the threat of continued violence, feelings of guilt or shame, as well as legal, economic, and social barriers in providing victims with justice, or the fear of not being believed might cause the survivor to remain silent or prevent them from seeking professional help. Lack of professional or personal support and feelings of isolation can further compound mental health symptoms.

For these reasons, it is important to help create a supportive environment for survivors, where they do not have to fear victim-blaming, disbelief, or further re-traumatization. Seeking professional support can be an important step in the beginning to identify abusive behavior, such as gaslighting (a tactic used to manipulate an individual into questioning their thoughts, opinions, feelings, or memory to render the victim dependent upon the abuser). Gaslighting is often used to show feelings of fear, self-doubt, and insecurity, often a major component of abuse. Once a survivor begins to perceive the abuse, they can begin to seek safety, seek support or professional help, and heal. If you have been experiencing domestic violence, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.