Why abuse is bad?

Asked by Anonymous
Answered
05/14/2021

Abuse is an unfortunate experience some people have to deal with that has many different negative implications.  One difficult part about abuse is that they tend to feel trapped in it when someone is abused. This gives way to the abuse continuing and growing and growing, which can be really harmful to those involved.  Abuse victims might be manipulated to feel weak and as though they are not strong enough to reach out for help.  This shines a light on the fact that abuse has several negative implications for mental health.  Abusers likely have a serious mental health issue that contributes to their actions and will likely not seek help for those actions out of fear that they will get into trouble.  Victims of abuse will likely experience serious mental health issues as a consequence of being abused.  Victims of abuse are more likely to develop serious depression, serious anxiety, PTSD, among other serious mental health issues. 

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.

Abuse is bad because of the serious mental health consequences, and many physical health consequences can come from abuse.  Victims of abuse can have serious physical health issues that oftentimes will go unseen and untreated out of fear that they will get their abuser caught.  Physical health issues such as cuts, bruises, broken bones, among others, can lead to even further health issues if untreated.  These serious physical health issues will also become a part of why an abuse victim will feel weak and see their abuser as stronger than them. 

A really toxic component to abuse is that it oftentimes sets a precedent and a pattern.  Those involved and/or observing the abuse occurring are more likely to exhibit those abusive behaviors themselves.  Once the abuse starts, it is likely to continue and grow as long as it goes untreated.  Some abuse might start with an accidental action, but if that goes untreated and unaddressed, the abuse can grow into something so much more severe.  Abusers are likely to pass along their abusive behaviors to people in their lives that look up to them, and so the abuse can continue for decades and decades. 

(MA, LPC, NCC)