How Coronavirus Is Impacting Domestic Violence

How Coronavirus Is Impacting Domestic Violence

As Americans go to lockdown and isolation due to coronavirus safety guidelines, domestic violence victims are looking for ways out. Coronavirus is significantly impacting domestic violence, and victims need to know how to stay safe during these periods.

Since there is still no possible cure for coronavirus, the only crucial safety measures to control the spread of the virus is staying home, working remotely, and avoiding public places. However, some violent abusers are taking advantage of the lockdown, which may be unsafe for other family members or friends.

Many people, particularly women and children, are easily vulnerable in case domestic violence erupts. Their mental and physical health becomes compromised each day in their homes where they should feel comfortable and safe. The consequences of emotional and psychological state on victims may include panic attacks, PTSD, depression, among others.

A Closer Study of Domestic Violence Issue

When domestic violence victims are forced to stay at home together with domestic abusers, there face high chances of experiencing mental health discomfort and additional abuse. In fact, violent abusers are taking advantage of the national health concern for coronavirus pandemic to mistreat others.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline state that the coronavirus pandemic can influence intimate partner violence in various ways from abusers during the epidemic, such as:

• Abusing drugs and alcohol as a way of dealing with stress issues

• Increasing abusive behaviors because of financial limitations and emotional stress that results from the pandemic
• Engaging in additional emotional mistreatment
• Denying their partners the necessary items such as hand sanitizers, face masks, disinfectants
• Giving false misinformation about the COVID-19 to intimidate or control their partners
• Withholding essential items such as money, insurance cards, and food, among others
• Feeling more justified in strengthening their isolation strategies
• Using coronavirus as a frightening tactic to ensure their partners don’t find help from outside such as visiting family members
• Preventing their partner from attending work, even if they work in a healthcare
• Creating strict and controlling instructions on how to behave at home. Some even find faults, yet their partners follow the given instructions.
• Preventing their partners from receiving medical care especially when they notice they have symptoms
• Threatening to call off health insurance or preventing their partners from obtaining medical care or prescriptions for prevailing health conditions
• Always blaming and mocking their partner whenever something goes wrong

These are some of the main tactics abusers are using to cause domestic violence, although there are additional ways too. However, it is possible to obtain help if you feel the pandemic lockdown is causing risks to your health and safety.

A Word From the Recover

In case you or a loved one become a victim of domestic violence, reach out for help at National Domestic Violence Hotline. Also, you may contact the hotline number 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support from qualified advocates.

Experiencing domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic creates a painful and uncomfortable environment. However, do not allow the fear of coronavirus to make you feel unsafe since you can always find help.