Domestic violence isn’t a disagreement or everyday relationship stress. It’s a repeated pattern of behavior used to gain power and control over a partner, family member, or anyone in the household.

But the visible injuries are only part of the picture. The emotional and psychological fallout can linger long after the bruises heal, disrupting mental health, school, or work, and daily life.

At Discovery Mood & Anxiety, we support survivors with trauma-informed care and integrated treatment. Our clinicians understand domestic violence and its impact on mental health and help individuals build safety, stability, and the skills needed to heal.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is essentially an abusive behavior pattern that’s used to gain power and control over an intimate partner.

The public was reminded of what domestic violence looked like in March 2026 when the popular TV show The Bachelorette, was cancelled shortly before its new season aired. A video emerged of the series’ star, Taylor Frankie Paul, showing her in a violent argument with her partner, Dakota Mortensen.

The video, taken in 2023, showed Paul verbally abusing her partner, kicking him, and putting him in a headlock before she threw metal stools at him with her young daughter nearby.

Common Signs of an Abusive Relationship

Abuse can occur in any intimate partnership, within families, and among people who share a home. It can start subtly and escalate over time, or it can be frequent and obvious from the start. Recognizing the different forms of harm is a key step toward safety and support.

Forms of abuse include:

  • Physical abuse: Hitting, choking, shoving, restraining, blocking exits, use of weapons, or depriving sleep or medical care.
  • Emotional and psychological abuse: Threats, humiliation, name-calling, intimidation, isolation from friends and family, monitoring messages or calls, and gaslighting.
  • Sexual abuse: Any non-consensual sexual contact or coercion, including reproductive coercion such as sabotaging birth control or pressuring pregnancy decisions.
  • Financial abuse: Controlling money, employment or education; damaging credit; withholding essentials like food, transport or healthcare.
  • Digital and technological abuse: Stalking via devices, GPS tracking, password theft, non-consensual image sharing, or surveillance through apps.
  • Stalking: Repeated following, monitoring, unwanted communications and surveillance that instills fear.
  • Cultural or spiritual abuse: Using beliefs, traditions or immigration status to manipulate, shame or control.

Warning signs and patterns of domestic violence include:

  • Behavioral: Withdrawal from loved ones, secrecy, frequent cancellations, excessive check-ins with a partner or hypervigilance.
  • Physical: Unexplained injuries, frequent “accidents,” wearing concealing clothing in hot weather, insomnia, chronic pain or headaches.
  • Emotional: Anxiety, depressed mood, low self-worth, confusion, frequent crying or feeling constantly on edge.
  • Financial: Job loss or inability to work, no access to personal documents, bank accounts or transportation.
  • Environmental: Damaged property, holes in walls, or restricted phone or internet access.

Domestic Violence Statistics: Who is Affected?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

  • More than 1 in 3 women (almost 43.5 million) and more than 1 in 6 men (20.7 million) experience domestic violence during their lifetimes in the US.
  • Among women, about 1 in 5 experienced contact sexual violence, nearly 1 in 4 experienced physical violence, and about 1 in 8 were stalked.

LifeWire, a Washington state-based advocacy group for survivors of domestic violence, reports that:

  • Black women experience domestic violence at a rate 35% higher than White women.
  • More than 1 in 3 Native and Indigenous women experience domestic violence at some point during their lives.

Anyone can experience domestic violence: people of every gender, age, sexual orientation, race, income level, and immigration status. It happens in dating and marital relationships, among cohabiting partners, and after relationships end.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health reports that more than 15 million children in the US live in homes where acts of domestic violence have occurred at least once. Children are deeply affected by exposure to abuse, even if they are not directly harmed, and older adults may experience abuse from partners or family caregivers.

Understanding domestic violence and mental health together helps families recognize the full scope of harm and the support that can help.

How Does Domestic Violence Affect Children?

Domestic violence has particularly devastating effects on children who witness it. Many children struggle with lifetime behavioral, emotional, and physical effects after witnessing domestic abuse:

  • Behavioral effects include aggression, acting out, tantrums, problems in school, and risk-taking behaviors when they’re older.
  • Emotional and psychological effects include chronic fear and anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, feeling personally responsible for the abuse and low self-esteem.
  • Physical effects include sleep problems, bedwetting, appetite changes, nightmares and headaches.

Domestic Violence and Its Impact on Mental Health

Abuse undermines safety, autonomy, and identity. Constant threat keeps the body and brain in survival mode, which can drive anxiety, depression, and trauma responses. The impact of domestic violence can touch every area of life, such as sleep, concentration, work, school, and relationships. Healing is possible with the right care.

Knowing the common effects helps survivors and providers match support to needs.

Common mental health conditions linked to abuse:

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma: Nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, hyperarousal, emotional numbing; complex trauma may disrupt self-image and relationships.
  • Anxiety disorders: Generalized worry, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, social anxiety and heightened startle responses.
  • Depressive disorders: Persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, sleep and appetite changes, or hopelessness.
  • Substance use disorders: Using alcohol or drugs to cope with distress, silence intrusive thoughts or aid sleep.
  • TBI-related symptoms: Headaches, memory and concentration problems, dizziness, and mood changes after repeated head impacts.
  • Self-harm and suicidal thoughts: Increased risk during escalation and in the aftermath of leaving.

Long-term effects of domestic violence on well-being:

  • Chronic stress responses: Persistent hypervigilance, irritability, difficulty relaxing, and emotional dysregulation.
  • Relationship challenges: Trouble trusting, fear of intimacy, or repeating patterns of control in future relationships.
  • Physical health impacts: Elevated risk for chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular problems, and sleep disorders.
  • Parenting stressors: Co-parenting with an abusive ex-partner and concerns about children’s safety and well-being.

Self-esteem and identity:

  • Erosion of confidence: Gaslighting, blame, and humiliation feed shame and self-doubt.
  • Identity disruption: Loss of interests, goals, and social ties due to isolation and control.
  • Recovery and growth: With safety and support, many survivors rebuild self-worth, reclaim identity, and experience post-traumatic growth.

How the Effects of Domestic Violence Can Be Treated

Discovery Mood & Anxiety provides integrated, trauma-informed treatment that addresses the effects of domestic violence and helps survivors regain stability and hope. Through measurement-based therapies and compassionate care, we help patients stabilize symptoms, process trauma safely, and move toward a life defined by their values—not by the abuse they endured.

Therapies that help:

  • CBT and ACT: Cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy target unhelpful thoughts, avoidance, and emotion regulation.
  • Group therapy and peer support: Peer groups validate experiences, reduce isolation, and build coping skills.
  • Culturally responsive and LGBTQ+-affirming services: Providers trained in identity-specific concerns increase engagement and outcomes.
  • Integrated treatment for co-occurring concerns: Addressing trauma, substance use and mood symptoms together often improves recovery.

Here are some critical resources:

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE), text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org for 24/7 confidential support.
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-4673 or online.rainn.org.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org for mental health crises.

Why Choose Discovery Mood & Anxiety?

Our programs combine evidence-based therapies, psychiatric support, and holistic practices in settings designed for safety and healing.

When you’re ready, our team will meet you where you are, whether you need crisis stabilization or long-term support.  Together, we can take the next step toward safety and well-being.

Reach out to us today to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does trauma from domestic violence differ from other trauma?

Repeated interpersonal harm, especially with isolation and control, often leads to complex trauma. This can affect self-image, mood regulation and relationships more broadly than a single-incident trauma.

Is couples counseling recommended when abuse is present?

Generally, no. Couples’ therapy can increase danger by shifting attention away from the abuser’s responsibility and may provoke retaliation. Individual trauma-informed care for the survivor and specialized perpetrator programs are safer and more effective approaches.

How can I document abuse for legal protection?

Keep a secure record of dates, times, incidents, injuries, photos, screenshots, and medical or police reports. Store copies digitally in a safe account or with someone you trust. An advocate or attorney can guide what is admissible in your jurisdiction and how to protect your privacy.

What if I’m worried about immigration or financial consequences?

Many advocacy organizations provide confidential services regardless of immigration status and can connect you with legal aid and emergency funds. Hotlines can help you locate programs that protect confidentiality and address your specific concerns. We can also coordinate care with community partners to support safety and stability.