Battered woman syndrome, also known as battered person syndrome, can be the product of long-term domestic abuse. Battered woman syndrome is considered a subcategory of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
People living with battered woman syndrome may feel helpless. This can cause them to wrongly believe they deserve the abuse and that they can’t get away from it. In many cases, this is why people don’t report their abuse to police or loved ones.
If you believe you or someone close to you is living with battered woman syndrome, know that it’s possible to treat this condition and lead a full life. Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of battered woman syndrome, as well as how it’s treated.
The stages of battered woman syndrome
Because of the unique circumstances that different people can find themselves in, battered woman syndrome may not look the same in everyone who lives with it.
That being said, there are generally thought to be four stages of battered woman syndrome:
- Denial. The person is unable to accept that they’re being abused, or they justify it as being “just that once.”
- Guilt. The person believes they caused the abuse.
- Enlightenment. In this phase, the person realizes that they didn’t deserve the abuse and acknowledges that their partner has an abusive personality.
- Responsibility. The person accepts that only the abuser holds responsibility for the abuse. In many cases, this is when they’ll explore their options for leaving the relationship.
