Abuse, Trauma & Women's Emotional Health

                                              Understanding the long reach of trauma
 

At Joy Wisdom Trust, we recognise the depth and breadth of complex trauma, do more than talk, and help to dissolve and resolve trauma impacts from abuse. Educate and help individuals, groups understand what is happening internally, externally. Changing awareness, with safeguarding principles.
 

Both genders get abused as adults and children. Abuse does not end when the abusive situation ends. The domino effect of emotional, psychological and physical effects can continue for years, and links to previous event is often misunderstood.
 

A growing global problem. W.H.O says, almost one in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual intimate-partner or non-partner sexual violence during their lifetime. Symptoms after violence against women is associated with depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep difficulties, gastrointestinal problems, chronic pain and other long-term health consequences. And can be a lifelong issue for any age. (World Health Organization).
 

A Body-Mind-Emotional issue. Living with fear, coercive control, humiliation or repeated verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse can leave a person constantly alert to danger (on high alert, survival mode), yet feeling emotionally numb, disconnected or “frozen”. Essentially decentised to life and engaging with self, described as a trauma freeze response, happens automatically instigated by the nervous system, a body's protective ‘survival’ response to overwhelming threat. Relationship interactions, confidence, trust, sleep and emotional wellbeing may all be affected long after immediate danger has passed. Affecting hormones, linked to menstrual cycle imbalance and stronger Perimenopause symptoms. (As discussed in Menoproof your Life Through the Decades book).
 

Children are affected too. The landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (A.C.E) research demonstrated strong associations between childhood abuse, neglect and household adversity, poorer health and wellbeing across a lifespan. Prolonged toxic stress can affect developing stress-response, nervous and immune systems and is associated with later mental-health difficulties, chronic disease and problems establishing safe, stable relationships. (CDC)
 

Abuse can occur in every part of society. Patriarchal norms and some harmful practices can be reinforced or justified within families or communities. Misogyny, gender inequality and beliefs that give men entitlement or control over women can increase risk. Some women additionally face forced marriage, “honour” based abuse and other harmful practices where family, community, cultural or religious expectations are used to justify control. Culture or beliefs must not excuse abuse behaviour. (GOV.UK)
 

Women Understanding Women
 

At Joy Wisdom Trust, we recognise the depth and breadth of complex trauma.
 

Our specialist programmes provide compassionate, person-centred integrated Body–Mind–Emotion support, helping women recover from trauma and shocking events, education is essential to safeguard self, understand risks and effects of trauma, the body responses that often follow, rebuild confidence and work towards greater emotional safety, building inner empowerment, self-esteem. JWT also provide professional education and group talks.
 

Abuse may be part of a child’s or woman's history. It does not have to define their future.
 

Book a FREE consultation to find out more.