Dr. Bradley referred the patient for mental health therapy and suggested self-control activities such as keeping a headache diary. The patient eventually confronted her father, who moved out of town. The headaches abated and the patient was able to function normally again. Patients don't understand why they have headaches or gastrointestinal problems. It's up to us to find the source of the problem.
Domestic violence is widespread.
That same report also found that each year, an estimated two to four million American women are abused by an intimate partner. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that one to two million elderly persons, primarily women, experience abuse or neglect on an ongoing basis. Domestic violence is not only physical. It can include psychological abuse and witnessing another family member being abused. Women in abusive relationships often say that psychological abuse affects them more adversely than physical abuse.