My Roller Coaster Ride with Battered Woman's Syndrome

Lenore Walker, a Denver psychologist and the nations foremost authority on domestic violence says that, "It is essential that we learn to recognize Battered Woman's Syndrome for what it is: a terrified human being's normal response to an abnormal and dangerous situation."

Some of the symptoms are anxiety, hyper-vigilant, minimizes the abuse, has altered perceptions of what alternatives she has, feelings that she can't terminate the relationship without being further abused.

The American Psychiatric Association has not identified this disorder as a mental illness but some authorities agree that it is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, an accepted mental sickness that is developed after a traumatic happening.

It is felt that the battered woman's fear has a "geometric progression" to it. Every time she's abused she is not only responding to the current incident but in her mind she's reacting to the former abuse also.

The holistic approach to solving this syndrome should be to not only treat the broken bones, ulcers, stress, nerves, obesity, anorexia but also get this person into a self-help program, therapy, and work on their self-esteem.

It is believed that there are many, many women walking around out there that have been or are being battered and abused right now and don't even know it.

In the following pages I will attempt to tell my personal story.....

My ex-husband is an alcoholic. He was verbally and physically abusive. Does my life with him fall under the classification of "Battered Women's Syndrome?"

As I sit here watching the special on '48 Hours' about this syndrome I find myself in an very emotional state. Oh Lord, I think the questions I've asked myself for the last 11 1/2 years have now had some light shed on them. Why? Why am I here? Why do I stay? Why do I go back? What kind of control does he have on me that makes me accept his apologies and go back for more?