Legal definitions of domestic abuse in the UK will now include psychological and emotional abuse as well as physical violence, the BBC reports (19th September 2012) as the Home Office announces changes that will take effect from March 2013.
The article quotes one victim: "There were several incidents of violence over the six years that I suffered. However, there were many more incidents of psychological and emotional abuse that went on even if there was no violence. These were about control and power and diminishing my self-esteem to the point of not being able to see what was going on or trust my own instincts. Because there were fewer incidents of violence, I didn't consider myself a victim of domestic violence.
"Only after when the violence escalated, when divorce proceedings were started and my ex-husband started losing control over me, and the children witnessed the abuse, did I realise I was a victim and I must do something. If I had been more aware that I was suffering the psychological abuse and emotional abuse, I may have been more able to see what was going on and get the help I needed for me and the children much sooner."
For more media reports about mental health, counselling and psychotherapy visit Therapy Me: Psychotherapy and Counselling in Central London and South London.
Wednesday 19 September 2012
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