The Quiet War: PTSD in Survivors of Domestic abuse

Colleen Tuttle-Wetter
Jun 1
3 min read

National PTSD Awareness Month invites us to learn, reflect, and take action. Often, the stories we hear focus on trauma from war or natural disasters. While these stories matter deeply, so do the more hidden, quiet battles, those waged behind closed doors.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) doesn’t only result from combat or catastrophe. It also affects those who have survived prolonged emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, especially within the context of an intimate relationship. For survivors of domestic abuse, PTSD can become an invisible wound, lingering long after the bruises fade and the locks are changed.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or terrifying event. It changes the way a person’s brain and body respond to stress. While it’s natural to feel shaken after trauma, when the symptoms of fear, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or intrusive memories persist for a month or more, PTSD may be present.

According to the National Center for PTSD, symptoms of PTSD can include:

Reliving the trauma through flashbacks or nightmares
Avoiding reminders of the abuse
Constant feelings of danger or being “on edge”
Difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or trusting others
Intense feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame

For survivors of domestic abuse, these symptoms are often compounded by emotional isolation, financial insecurity, or threats from their abuser—making healing even harder to reach.

A Survivor’s Story

Leah never imagined she’d fear the person who once promised to love her. The abuse began with small things: jealous questions, withheld affection, silent punishments. Over time, it escalated into name-calling, threats, and eventually physical violence. She felt like a shadow of herself, constantly walking on eggshells, doubting her own reality.

When Leah finally left, she thought she’d feel free. But instead, she felt numb. Loud noises startled her. She panicked in small spaces and crowds. She avoided relationships, mistrusted everyone, and often woke up gasping from nightmares or was unable to sleep at all. A friend gently suggested she might be living with PTSD.

It wasn’t easy, but Leah reached out for help. Therapy gave her language for what she’d lived through. A local support group made her feel less alone. Slowly, she began to reclaim her sense of safety and herself.

Today, Leah is building a life rooted in peace. Her story reminds us: healing is possible. Survivors are resilient. And no one should have to suffer in silence.

Breaking the Silence

Far too many survivors don’t even realize they have PTSD. Others know something is wrong, but blame themselves. The stigma surrounding both abuse and mental health can prevent people from seeking support.

Here’s what we can all do:

Believe survivors when they share their stories
Learn the signs of PTSD and trauma-related disorders
Share resources that offer support and education
Challenge harmful myths—like the idea that PTSD is “only for veterans,” or that abuse “wasn’t bad enough” to leave lasting harm
Advocate for trauma-informed care in our communities

Hope After Trauma

No one chooses to experience abuse, but healing is a choice, it will not happen on it's own. With compassion, therapy, support networks, and time, recovery is possible. PTSD does not have to be a life sentence. If you or someone you love is struggling with the effects of abuse and trauma, you are not alone. You are not broken. Help is available.