Conference paper
THE PRESENCE OF DEPRESSION IN WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. THE EXPERIENCES OF ANTI VIOLENCE CENTERS IN THE REGION OF CALABRIA
Maria Rosaria Juli
; Counseling Service of Foggia (FG), Italy
Abstract
Introduction: As is clear from research accredited by the ONU, the violence suffered by the partner, husband or other family
members is the leading cause of death and disability for women aged 15 to 44 years. The WHO has also shown that at least one in
five women suffers a beating or any form of violence in herl lifetime. Gender-based violence is undoubtedly a widespread
phenomenon on a worldwide scale regardless of ethnicity, religion, social class,or level of education. It is a traumatic experience
that produces different effects depending on the type of violence and the person who is the victim. There is a close relationship of
cause and effect between violence and health status of women. They are in fact relevant primary effects related to the consequences
of direct physical violence on the body and the side effects associated with mental and physical damage to repetitive exposure and
situations of traumatic impact. The health consequences can be of different nature,rainging from Physical, Psychological and
Behavioral, Sexual and Reproductive, to Death. The first important Psychological consequences are Depressive Disorder and
Anxiety. The objective of this study was to analyze, through the administration of diagnostic tests, the methods of the links of the
subjects on the one hand, attachment and relationships on the other; grouped in practice to detect if there is a close relationship
between a Depressive Disorder and Violence suffered.
Method: 20 women aged between 23 and 50 years who have experienced various forms of violence, were randomly selected and
followed by the three anti-violence centers of Calabria.
Results: The Separation Anxiety Depressive trait that explains the current Depression is not the result of the violence, but it is
due to lack of self-confidence, difficulty im being identified and ability to plan for their lives. These difficulties are established in the
woman through an enmeshed relationship with her partner, in fact, what has emerged is the establishment of an Insecure
Attachment.
Discussion: Women who have been raped are traumatized individuals, who have not recovered from trauma, and therefore are
vulnerable to pain. In relationships that have established themselves they feel responsible for what they have now (guilt, lack selfconfidence,
difficulty in separating); denying Separation Anxiety and remaining trapped in a violent relationship. The term
Separation Anxiety denotes an aspect of behaviour, considered as a pathological form as well as clarified by the DSM V (even in
adults); In fact, this is the separation anxiety which is manifested by extreme anxiety and those who suffer from it are tied more to the
partner and/or parents that are the very cause of the symptom. This discomfort is related to childhood, therefore, the evidence
suggests that there is a close relationship between what one has lived in that era and adult life.
Conclusion: Women victims of violence, must overcome the separation anxiety that has been established as a result of trauma,
the latter if not processed coincides with the shame and the guilt. This will be possible if they are given valid support, which is
psychological / psychotherapeutic and pharmacological , to accompany and support them towards a new lease of life.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
265691
URI
Publication date:
5.11.2014.
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