Children from violent homes are at high risk for becoming adult victims or abusers themselves. Family and friends are indirect victims of abuse. The isolation and terror that victim lives with deprives those closest to him or her from meaningful and fulfilling relationships. Often the abuser will harm others close to the victim in an effort to hurt or control the victim. An abuser may harm children, other family members friends, pets, personal belongings and the family home.
Isolation keeps a victim trapped.
Frequently, a batterer isolates the victim from the family socially, emotionally and geographically. The victim is frequently forbidden to see trusted friends and family, and is denied the opportunity to go to school or work outside the home. There is little or no access to or control over finances. After a long period of isolation the victim may feel emotionally overwhelmed, terrified and confused. If the victim should enter into a new relationship, he or she tends to have an overwhelming fear of the abuser's threats of harm.