Police and Intimate partner victims/survivors of OIDV
Mental health concerns, trauma, complex PTSD, secondary or biproxy PTSD, and other mental health challenges
Police wives who experience domestic violence trauma and PTSD may face a range of mental health challenges, including:
1. Anxiety and depression
2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and CPTSD.
3. Complex Trauma
4. Dissociation (where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity)
5. Emotional numbing (a person is unable to experience emotions. Alternatively, they may feel as though they are cut off from their own emotions)
6. Hyperarousal (an abnormal state of increased responsiveness to stimuli that is marked by various physiological and psychological symptoms: as increased levels of alertness and anxiety and elevated heart rate and respiration)
7. Hypervigilance (the elevated state of constantly assessing potential threats around you)
8. Avoidance behaviours
9. Intrusive memories and flashbacks
10. Nightmares
11. Substance abuse and addiction
12. Suicidal ideation and attempts
13. Self-harm and self-destructive behaviours
14. Difficulty with emotional regulation (such as feeling overwhelmed by seemingly minor things, struggling to control impulsive behaviours, or having unpredictable outbursts)
15. Difficulty with trust and intimacy
16. Feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame
17. Difficulty with concentration and memory
18. Depression and anxiety-related physical symptoms (e.g., chronic pain, fatigue)
19. Social isolation and withdrawal
20. Loss of identity and purpose.
It's important to recognise that these mental health challenges can be complex and interconnected and may require specialised treatment and support. Police wives experiencing domestic violence trauma and PTSD deserve compassionate understanding, validation, and evidence-based care to promote healing and recovery.
A police wife suffering from domestic violence may face unique barriers that make it difficult for her to seek help, including:
1. Fear of retaliation or repercussions against her husband's career.
2. Shame or embarrassment due to the perceived stigma of being a "police wife" and experiencing domestic violence.
3. Loyalty and commitment to her husband and the police family culture.
4. Fear of not being believed or being blamed for the abuse.
5. Concerns about confidentiality and privacy.
6. Limited access to resources and support services that understand the complexities of police culture.
7. Isolation from friends and family due to the shame and secrecy surrounding the abuse.
8. Fear of losing custody of children or damaging her husband's reputation.