Domestic Violence During Lockdown: How to Cope and Stay Safe

For victims of domestic violence, the pandemic has made day-to-day life incredibly difficult. Prior to social distancing, shelter-in-place orders, and business closures, victims could at least get a break from their abusers by going to work, taking a walk, or running errands. They could safely use a library’s computer to learn about domestic violence resources and seek support. According to Carol A. Lambert, LICSW, a psychotherapist and intimate partner abuse expert, these mandates “play into an abuser’s playbook of entrapment.” It’s harder than ever to find a bit of freedom and privacy, said Tasseli McKay, a social science researcher who examines intimate partner violence in marginalized communities at the nonprofit research institute RTI International. Victims are cut off from their support systems, said Christine E. Murray, Ph.D., LCMHC, LMFT, director of the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. If they’ve been laid off or their income reduced, victims might become “more financially dependent on their abuser, which may add to their fears about leaving their abuser or otherwise taking steps toward safety,” Murray said. Abusers also might use the coronavirus to further manipulate and control their partners, said Allison Crowe, Ph.D, LPC, NCC, ACS, an associate professor and program coordinator for the Counselor Education Program at East Carolina University. For example, they might withhold acc...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: General Inspiration & Hope Relationships Self-Help Stress Trauma Violence and Aggression Women's Issues Source Type: blogs