While domestic violence can damage your relationship and hurt your reputation, you may feel unable to prevent it at times. Feeling like you cannot control your emotional response or your behavior may cause feelings of fear and frustration.
Knowing some of the potential triggers of violent behavior may encourage you to seek help.
Past traumas
Experiencing trauma, especially at a young age, can cause psychological impairments that impact your emotional response. If not adequately treated, these unseen injuries can disrupt thinking patterns, beliefs and rationale. You may feel the need to control the environment around you to prevent trauma from happening again. According to Psych Central, an incessant desire to be in control could result from underlying conditions including the following:
- Gender ideologies
- Poor education
- Anger management
- Cultural attitudes
- Personality disorders
- Substance abuse
Irrational beliefs
Witnessing violence, living in a hostile environment or exposure to illogical opinions as a child can contribute to the development of irrational beliefs. You may lack the ability to reason or express empathy for others and their circumstances. Narcissistic tendencies and other personality disorders that may result from these irrational beliefs can directly influence your treatment of others.
Even though domestic violence is a serious crime, you can do things to change unhealthy patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, for example, can help you uncover the root cause of your violent tendencies. When you learn about what triggers your violence, you can implement boundaries to prevent yourself from losing control. With a commitment to changing your habits and resolve to heal your past traumas, you may gradually regain the trust of others and have a second chance at a happy life.
