How Survivors Cope Women and children who survive domestic violence have talked about the various ways they have developed to cope until they could find safety. The coping strategies they worked out enabled them to survive.
Denial helps the survivor avoid feelings of terror and humiliation.
This is a form of denial. Well, he only hit me once with his fist. These help the survivor experience some strong feelings such as fear, anger, panic, and shame which she cannot safely share with anyone at the time. These two reactions can numb the survivor's mind and body while the assault takes place and for a time afterward. The reactions help her avoid dealing with immediate feelings until she has found safety.