Symptoms of Abuse

**Victims of Abuse and Violence**
can be afraid to tell anyone	can be ashamed that they failed as a person	can be concerned about further abuse or violence	have developed skin lesions
can experience panic attacks or symptoms of PTSD	can become dispirited and frustrated	can feel guilt about leaving their partner	can believe that they have done something to deserve it
can feel that no one will believe them	can feel sadness or depression	can feel humiliation or anger	are worried about the children if they leave
are worried about their financial security	worry about their home and belongings	can not live at home in peace	often have meals away from home
endure anxiety	endure depression	have distrust of others	sense emptiness
can have flashbacks	can exhibit intensified vigilance	can exhibit increased irritability	can develop insomnia (sleeplessness)
feel listless	can have loss of appetite	can have loss of sexual desire	can have many medical complaints
can have memory problems	can have nightmares	can have precognition (the perception of an event before it occurs)	can have pseudo (ghost) pains
can feel a sense of helplessness	can exhibit social withdrawal	can exhibit shakes or tremors	can exhibit an inability to concentrate
can have diarrhea	can have nausea and vomiting	can have an amplified startle response	can have amplified senses
can have unexplained weight gain or loss	can experience recurrent headaches	can become substance dependent	can resent those who have harmed them

Table Notes
1. These are symptoms of torture.
2. Many abusers batter their partner while they are sleeping or otherwise helpless.
3. Many abusers attempt to destroy their target's sense of self-worth.
4. Emotional attacks and attacks on others are just as destructive as physical personal attacks.
5. Substance abuse is not uncommon and should be viewed as a result of continued battery or abuse.
6. These are natural and common feelings and responses that people experience in violent or impossible relationships.