| A common threat to battered women in divorce | | | | FIRST, find a credible psychologist that is |
| proceedings is their perpetrator's use of psychology | | | | knowledgeable in domestic violence dynamics and the |
| to officially, yet improperly, establish that they are | | | | psychosocial politics of domestic abuse. Secure your |
| mentally ill. And all too often, these domestic violence | | | | own evaluation from this professional. |
| survivors sit back and do nothing to prevent this | | | | SECOND, keep this to yourself. You have a right to a |
| from happening. | | | | second opinion and you have a right to "privilege;" |
| They are flooded with the mental/emotional assault | | | | that is, your communications and involvement with |
| and, like a deer caught in headlights, show | | | | your psychologist are confidential. |
| startle...sever startle that is in many cases paralyzing | | | | THIRD, consult with a professional that can show |
| and debilitating. | | | | you how to block the strategies that are commonly |
| If you are a domestic abuse survivor and you | | | | used to fabricate mental illness. Study the tactics and |
| suspect that you are being set up to be backed into | | | | heighten your awareness of their subtle |
| wearing a psychiatric label that is being established to | | | | manifestations. |
| discredit, silence, contain or punish you, what would | | | | By doing this you will more likely prevent |
| you do? | | | | legal-psychiatric abuse typical of domestic violence |
| My suspicion is you have options that you may not | | | | divorce. And in the long run, you will increase your |
| have considered. Here are some key steps you can | | | | likelihood of obtaining the outcome you desire in your |
| do to protect yourself from being improperly labeled | | | | divorce proceedings. |
| with a psychiatric diagnosis. | | | | |