There are many domestic violence survivors in California who are still suffering because of the trauma. While a lot of people acknowledge the psychological impact of domestic violence, fewer people talk about the fact that many domestic violence survivors have lasting brain injuries.
Head injuries and strangulations are common
A study conducted by researchers from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and The Ohio State University looked at brain injuries among female domestic violence survivors. Researchers found that 83% of the women that they studied had been strangled and 81% had endured blows to the head during their abusive relationships.
Repeated strangulations and blows to the head can result in severe brain injuries for victims of domestic violence. These injuries can cause long-term emotional and cognitive problems that outlast abusive relationships. Long after an abused woman leaves her partner, her head injuries could be causing:
- Anxiety
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Hearing and vision problems
- Mood swings
Repeated injuries
Not only are head injuries and strangulations common in domestic violence situations, it’s common for these violent incidents to happen frequently. According to the OSU study, nearly half of the women surveyed said that they were hit in the head more times than they could remember. Over half of the women said that they had been strangled a few different times.
Recovering from domestic violence
The OSU study is an important reminder that recovering from domestic violence is not easy. Survivors of domestic violence who have escaped from their abusive partners could still be suffering from the physical effects of trauma. Long after an abuse survivor has recovered emotionally, she may still have depression or anxiety that is being caused by a head injury.
