Sick and Tired of Domestic Violence Hurting Your Children?

You remember the day it came to a head. Your husband screamed some obscenities at you and punched a hole in the wall. Meanwhile, your daughters were huddled together, waiting for the blows to land on you. The tears were streaming down your face as you tried to focus on preparing the evening meal. Somehow, you bit your tongue. In the back of your head, you wondered if this counted as domestic violence. After all, nothing physical was happening to you. You also worried about your poor children witnessing yet another bad scene.

To your surprise, the police showed up at the door. You didn’t call them and had no idea what prompted their arrival. More than likely, you were concerned about repercussions and the temper tantrum that would come as a result. You watched helplessly as your husband, the father of your children, is escorted out the door.

Later, you discovered that it was one of your daughters who summoned the police to your home. She was afraid. For a moment, you were almost angry that she involved the authorities. And then, you realized that allowing yourself to be a victim of domestic violence was hurting your children.

If this picture sounds like you could have painted it, then you need to read on to see how domestic violence affects the people you love most.

Impact of Domestic Violence on Children

First, it’s important to understand that domestic violence is not just comprised of physical abuse. There’s also the consideration of whether committing an act of domestic violence in front of a child is a crime. Notwithstanding, as a parent, you’re likely feeling guilty that your actions or inactions are creating permanent issues. Candidly, you should be fearful.

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “domestic violence poses a serious threat to children’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, particularly if the violence is chronic.” Frankly, as resilient as children can be, a dysfunctional household that includes domestic violence is hard to beat.

All things considered, there are a few reasons domestic violence victims put up with their abusers. They may subscribe to the notion that families need to stay together despite bad times. For some, there are financial concerns. Meanwhile, the number of children impacted by domestic violence is well into the millions nationally.

Sad to say, but a child who witnesses domestic violence may find themselves diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). Unfortunately, the effects on the brain are similar to those exposed to wartime horrors.

Meanwhile, there are some even more alarming statistics provided by the Childhood Domestic Violence Association. As a result of observing domestic violence, children can suffer not only psychological issues but also physical maladies. Many seek to self-medicate and may harm themselves or others.

If you suspect you are a victim of domestic violence and feel you can live with it, that’s bad enough. However, once you consider what is happening to your children, you may think otherwise. It might be wise to express your concerns to an attorney with experience in domestic violence law. Find out what is best for you, and your family.

Contact Us

We can help. At the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, we can guide you through the process to protect you from further acts of domestic violence. Give our office a call for experienced legal advice.

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