Can Abuse Jeopardize Physical Health?

Can abuse jeopardize your physical health? The emotional toll abuse takes on a person is common knowledge, but can abuse harm the victim’s physical health? I have heard that the answer to this question is an absolute “Yes!” But how do we know that statement to be true? How can we know if a person would have developed a particular physical ailment if they had never been a victim of abuse?

Karen Robinson, my dear friend and colleague, will host a summit on Trauma and Health in May. I will post a link closer to the time it will occur. Karen has asked me to participate, yet speaking stresses me, so I have opted to write a blog. You can view the last time I spoke at one of her past summits, Heal Thrive Dream, by going to Crystal MM Huntley: Breaking the Chains of Abuse • Heal Thrive Dream Summit (spotify.com).

I do not doubt that abuse wreaks havoc with a person’s mental abilities. The effects of many decades of abuse linger with me through many cognitive facets. Some of those ways include how quickly I reach mental overload. Also, I stutter and stammer, blank out, and have trouble remembering certain things. Medical personnel have assured me that the cognitive challenges I suffer from stem from the trauma I have survived. Yet, I have heard that abuse can also affect the victim’s physical health. How does someone separate innate physical challenges from those caused by trauma?

At the very least, physical disabilities would increase from the constant stress placed on the body due to an overload of adrenalin poured into their cells from the abundant amount of time spent in Flight or Fight mode.

Managing Physical Health

I have learned to manage my health so it doesn’t take me out of commission. Effective management means it is crucial that I keep my stress down and not overtax myself. Whenever headaches increase to unbearable levels, and my feet burn so much that I cannot bear to have them touched, I know I have over-pushed myself and must take time out to rest. When my body aches like one does when they have the flu, or my hands and wrists swell and hurt, that is my cue that I have been working too hard and need to take it easy.

If the stress of an overload of daily activities can cause problems such as what I described, could the continuous stress on a body caused by sustained abuse bring on problems that manifest as chronic illnesses? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I can’t deny its possibility.

It seems as if health issues have ruled my life. Every so often, I need a hiatus from medical appointments and refuse to attend any so I can focus on living life. But then my need for medical assistance rises, and I must go back to filling empty spaces on my calendar with appointments.

How I wish I didn’t have to exist like this. At these times, I changed my thought process. I focus on gratitude toward the many medical professionals who have helped me have a better quality of life and my ability to access them. Not everyone who needs such a resource has this blessing. I must remain grateful, for it strengthens my health.

Effects of Abuse on Physical Health

Placing a solid name on whatever disables me, much of my life has been like a cat chasing his tail. For nearly two decades, my doctors had me diagnosed under the title of Sticklers Syndrome. Then, as diagnostic abilities improved, they wanted to redo genetic testing. As a result, they changed my diagnosis to Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, but a definite conclusion still escapes us.

The monumental question still looms. Is the diagnosis correct this time? Could my health issue be Lupis or something else? My symptoms point toward that possibility. Because of this ever-pressing question, Rheumatology keeps a close eye on me, watching my symptoms develop. All I know is that my health issues are real. They have significantly limited my existence since childhood, and they continue to worsen with each passing year.

This increase in symptoms has caused me often to worry about what my future will look like. The only thing that settles that concern and comforts me is my faith and trust in my Lord. My loving Savior has taken supreme care of me and carried me through every fire that has raged within my lifetime. Only because of my Lord’s loving nature am I where I am today. I trust my Savior, knowing that no matter what the future brings, God will continue to care for me.

To see more Crystalisms, go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1360983917796761.

Abuse Permanently Changes a Person.

Abuse permanently changes a person. We victims have no control over that fact. However, we do have an element of control over how we allow it to change us. As an example, I never used to stutter until things got so severe that, for my safety, I had to escape to the protection of a shelter for abused women. That fact alone indicates that trauma has caused the onset of this handicap. I don’t know if my stuttering is a physical or mental handicap. However, whichever category it falls under, this handicap has changed my life by giving me a new challenge to manage.

In many of my previous blog posts, I’ve shared bits and pieces of the abuse I have survived over the first 46 years of my life. Here is just one of the many posts that share elements of the abusive past I have overcome. https://crystalmmhuntley.com/2023/10/speak-your-truth-part-1-how-to-claim-your-value/.

Can Abuse Jeopardize Physical Health?

Circling back to the question I asked at the beginning of this blog, can abuse jeopardize physical health? It makes perfect sense that the answer to this question is yes. With that thought in mind, I often wonder what my life and state of health would be like if abuse hadn’t been such a dominant factor in my existence.

But dwelling on that question only robs me of even more joy. I refuse to give my abusers this victory. Instead, I chose to make the best of what I have and use my experiences to help encourage and guide other victims of abuse to turn what they have suffered through into strengths. Drawing on those strengths will better themselves. They then can move on victoriously and better our world.

If you are one of those victims who frequent my blog and read my books, I want you to know I keep you in mind whenever I write. Instead of accepting suffering from the wounds of my past, I place that energy into ways to strengthen you to help you break free from those chains of abuse that have bound you. The more of us who stand victorious together, the more strength we place into this world. Together, we can stomp out abuse. I pray you will join me in this mission. As we unite, we strengthen each other.

I invite you to join me next time as I share how gratitude can be a powerful weapon to conquer defeatism.

Note to My Readers

Hopefully, you have gained value from this blog post. If you have, I would like to offer you the opportunity to purchase my books. You can purchase The Hidden Diamond and Robin’s Gift here at BUY THE BOOK – Crystal MM Huntley.

An additional site where you can find my books is https://bkbookshoppe.com. However, if you prefer to purchase from Amazon, you will find The Hidden Diamond at http://www.amazon.com/The-Hidden-Diamond-Crystal-MM-Huntley/dp/1665573767 and Robin’s Gift at https://www.amazon.com/Robins-Gift-Crystal-MM-Huntley/dp/B0CVL7746N.

Each purchase of my books supports my mission to break the chains of abuse. Once you have read either of my books, feel free to leave a review on the site you purchased from. Your review will encourage others also to seek out the path of healing.

***The Hidden Diamond*** – Immerse yourself in a journey that uncovers the worth of a wounded soul amongst a lifetime of sin.

***Robin’s Gift*** – Lost and alone, Natalie’s biggest dream is a desire to be loved. A tragic accident calls her home. Can she return and face her greatest fear?

Post Views: 62

Managing Physical Health

Effects of Abuse on Physical Health

Abuse Permanently Changes a Person.

Can Abuse Jeopardize Physical Health?

Note to My Readers

You Might Also Like

How Important is Your Need to be Heard and Seen?

Choose the Best Perspective that Serves Your Heart.

Financial Abuse—Can You See the Signs?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply