If you’re an abuse survivor and you suffer from anxiety and/or depression, you may have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder resulting from a major trauma such as experiencing a terrorist attack or witnessing a murder. In recent years, studies have shown that people who have been abused also develop PTSD.

The symptoms of PTSD include:

Nightmares
Flashbacks
Avoiding thoughts or conversations about the event
Losing interest in pleasurable activities
Detachment
Numbness
Insomnia
Irritability
Anger
Difficulty concentrating
Startling easily

This article suggests a link between mental illness and battering, citing many studies to support the theory. I hope more studies are conducted on this issue in the future. I suspect researchers will find that many abuse victims have in fact been misdiagnosed with a mental illness, when they are actually suffering from PTSD.

If you think you may be suffering from PTSD, find a qualified therapist to aid you in your recovery. There are also many good self-help books available on Amazon.com. Some are listed on my sidebar to the left of this page if you scroll down.

You may also choose medication as a temporary or long-term therapy for your PTSD. Medication will only treat the symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. To treat the disorder, psychotherapy is recommended. Some people are also seeing results with EMDR.

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, talk to your therapist or physician about the possibility of PTSD.