PTSD and Domestic Violence: The Connection I Psych Central ConditionsFeaturedAddictionsAnxiety DisorderADHDBipolar DisorderDepressionPTSDSchizophreniaArticlesAdjustment DisorderAgoraphobiaAntisocial Personality DisorderBorderline Personality DisorderChildhood ADHDDissociative Identity DisorderNarcissistic Personality DisorderNarcolepsyOppositional Defiant DisorderPanic AttackPostpartum DepressionSchizoaffective DisorderSeasonal Affective DisorderSex AddictionSocial AnxietySpecific PhobiasTeenage DepressionTraumaDiscoverWellness TopicsBlack Mental HealthGriefEmotional HealthSex & RelationshipsTraumaUnderstanding TherapyWorkplace Mental HealthOriginal SeriesMy Life with OCDCaregivers ChroniclesEmpathy at WorkSex, Love & All of the AboveParent CentralMindful MomentNews & EventsMental Health NewsCOVID-19Live Town Hall: Mental Health in FocusPodcastsInside Mental HealthInside SchizophreniaInside BipolarQuizzesConditionsADHD Symptoms QuizAnxiety Symptoms QuizAutism Quiz: Family & FriendsAutism Symptoms QuizBipolar Disorder QuizBorderline Personality TestChildhood ADHD QuizDepression Symptoms QuizEating Disorder QuizNarcissim Symptoms TestOCD Symptoms QuizPsychopathy TestPTSD Symptoms QuizSchizophrenia QuizLifestyleAttachment Style QuizCareer TestDo I Need Therapy Quiz?Domestic Violence Screening QuizEmotional Type QuizLoneliness QuizParenting Style QuizPersonality TestRelationship QuizStress TestWhat's Your Sleep Like?ResourcesTreatment & SupportFind SupportSuicide PreventionDrugs & MedicationsFind a Therapist Psych Central ConditionsDiscoverQuizzesResources Subscribe Can Domestic Violence Cause PTSD Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST — By Nancy Lovering — Updated on August 16, 2022 PTSD and domestic violenceTriggersSymptomsTipsRecap Can you experience PTSD from domestic violence? PTSD was formerly associated only with war veterans, but anyone can develop this condition. Any traumatic event involving a threat to your safety — such as a car accident or natural disaster — can lead to PTSD. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD. An estimated 70% of adults in the United States will experience a traumatic event at least once in their lifetime, but only about 20% of them will develop PTSD. Domestic violence can activate the fight, flight, or freeze response, which can lead to PTSD. Traumatic events such as accidents have an end point after which you can work on recovery. Other types of traumas such as domestic violence are long-term (chronic), meaning they continue or repeat indefinitely. This type of ongoing trauma can lead to complex PTSD (C-PTSD). In need of help right now? If you’re in a domestic violence situation, you’re not alone. Millions of people each year live with and report domestic violence by an intimate or romantic partner. Nothing you’ve done can make you “deserve” any form of abuse from a partner or anyone else. There are steps you can try to navigate the situation until you feel it’s safe to leave. Psych Central offers several resources for survivors of domestic or intimate partner violence. You can check out these Psych Central pages:How to Deal with Domestic ViolenceHow to Leave an Abusive Relationship and Not Go BackHow to Heal After an Abusive Relationship If you’re unsure about whether your situation is an abusive one, consider checking out these pages:What Causes Domestic Violence?What Are the Signs of Domestic Violence? What are triggers? Triggers are trauma reminders or prompts that activate your sympathetic nervous system response. They usually connect to your trauma in some way such as a location where domestic violence occurred. When you witness a trigger, you may experience a physical reaction such as a startle response or elevated heart rate. A trauma trigger can cause an elevated reaction but the same sensory experience might not affect someone without PTSD. Domestic violence triggers can include anything that reminds your brain of the person involved in your trauma:Sounds: breaking glass, slamming doors, or yellingSmells: cigarette smoke, coffee, or cologneSights: the person’s style of clothing, hairstyle, or type of vehicle they drive Triggers can be less direct, too. For example, you might see someone walking a dog. This might remind you of a conversation about dogs that you had with the person involved in the domestic violence you’ve experienced. What are the symptoms? Long-term trauma can have lasting effects on the way your brain works. It can even change the shape of your brain. According to a 2018 study, people living with PTSD may have smaller hippocampi. The hippocampus plays an important role in learning and memory. Trauma can also change how you interact with your surroundings and other people. Your sympathetic nervous system remains activated, and you live in a state of hypervigilance against possible danger. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs lists the following as symptoms of C-PTSD:behavioral changes such as aggression and impulsivityemotional issues such as rage or depressioncognitive signs such as changes in identityrelationship difficultiesphysical symptoms with no apparent medical cause You may also experience symptoms such as:difficulty sleepingdistractibilityshame or guiltnightmarestrust issuesavoidance tendenciesflashbacksdissociationstartling easilymoodinessnegativity Relationship-based trauma such as domestic violence can change the way you interact with people. For example, you might find it harder to trust others. Some people who’ve experienced domestic abuse feel like they don’t deserve a trauma-free relationship. They may repeatedly find themselves in dysfunctional relationships because they’re familiar. A 2016 study found that children with a history of physical and sexual abuse were more likely to experience victimization by their peers once they reached adolescence. Tips to cope Psychotherapy is an effective treatment approach for many people living with PTSD and C-PTSD. Options include:cognitive processing therapyprolonged exposure therapycognitive behavioral therapyeye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)internal family systems (IFS)cognitive restructuring Self-care strategies can also reduce the impact of trauma. Even if you feel too overwhelmed to make many changes at once, small lifestyle improvements can still make a difference:nutritionexercisesleepstress reductionsupportive social contact PTSD from domestic violence can make it hard to think objectively. An important part of coping is to understand that the situation isn’t your fault. Finding someone you trust to talk with can help. An option to consider is an online support group where you can connect with others who share your experience. Let’s recap Domestic violence can cause PTSD and C-PTSD and can have a lasting impact. It can affect the way you interact with the world, and even change the shape of your brain. You may also experience reactions such as flashbacks in response to triggers. Therapy can help, as well as self-care strategies. It can be difficult to reach out for help while domestic violence is ongoing. You might worry about making the situation worse. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has confidential support available online, by telephone at 800-799-SAFE (7233), text at 88788 (text the word “start”), and TTY at 1-800-787-3224. Psych Central has a PTSD resource hub and mental health support page that you might find helpful. If you or someone in your life needs urgent support, consider reaching out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24/7:Online Lifeline ChatEnglish: 800-273-8255 (or 800-TALK)Text: 838255Spanish: 888-628-9454 Last medically reviewed on August 16, 2022 7 sourcescollapsed Benedini KM, et al. (2016). The cycle of victimization: The relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent peer victimization.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213416301697Complex PTSD. (n.d.).ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/essentials/complex_ptsd.aspHuecker MR, et al. (2022). Domestic violence.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499891/Jojo RM, et al. (2019) Post-traumatic relationship experiences in women in South India.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311908.2019.1703472Logue MW, et al. (2018). Smaller hippocampal volume in post-traumatic stress disorder: A multisite ENIGMA-PGC study: Subcortical volumetry results from post-traumatic stress disorder consortia.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632231731990XPost-traumatic stress disorder. (2019).nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtmlTraumatic stress disorder fact sheet. (2018).sidran.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder-Fact-Sheet-.pdf FEEDBACK: Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST — By Nancy Lovering — Updated on August 16, 2022 Read this next What Are the Signs of Domestic Violence? Domestic violence can come in many forms and look different from situation to situation. But there are common signs to look out for.READ MORE How to Deal with Domestic Violence If you're experiencing domestic violence, it can sometimes be hard to know how to manage the situation. But there are things you can do to stay safe.READ MORE How to Leave an Abusive Relationship and Not Go Back Even if you’ve gone back before, you can safely and permanently leave an abusive relationship. READ MORE Can PTSD Cause Brain Fog? Trauma can have both physical and mental effects, including trouble focusing and brain fog. We look at causes and coping tips.READ MORE What Is the Difference Between Complex PTSD and BPD? Karin Gepp, PsyD Complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder share some symptoms and key differences. Learn more about causes, signs, and treatment options.READ MORE How Does PTSD Lead to Emotional Dysregulation? Kendra Kubala, PsyD Emotional dysregulation is a common response to trauma, especially in complex PTSD. We look at why this happens and what to do. READ MORE PTSD and its Effects on Marriage With therapy, honest check-ins with each other, and mindfulness, you can enjoy your marriage despite your PTSD.READ MORE What Conditions Are Related to PTSD? PTSD often occurs with other conditions, such as anxiety, substance misuse, depression, BPD, and dissociative disorders.READ MORE How Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Impacts Survivors Sexual abuse that occurs during military service is not uncommon and often goes unreported. While this isn't a clinical diagnosis, it can lead to long-READ MORE