Domestic abuse and Violence

When people think of domestic abuse, they often focus on domestic violence. But domestic abuse includes any attempt by one person in a marriage or intimate relationship to dominate and control the other. Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” An abuser uses fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under their thumb.Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone; it does not discriminate. Abuse happens within heterosexual relationships. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. And while women are more often victimized, men also experience abuse—especially verbal and emotional. The bottom line is that abusive behavior is never acceptable, whether from a man, woman, teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe.

Domestic abuse often escalates from threats and verbal assault to violence. And while physical injury may pose the most obvious danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe. Emotionally abusive relationships can destroy your self-worth, lead to anxiety and depression, and make you feel helpless and alone. No one should have to endure this kind of pain—and your first step to breaking free is recognizing that your relationship is abusive.

There are many signs of an abusive relationship, and a fear of your partner is the most telling. If you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around them—constantly watching what you say and do in order to avoid a blow-up—chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive.

Other signs include a partner who belittles you or tries to control you, and having feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation.

Physical and sexual abuse

Physical abuse occurs when physical force is used against you in a way that injures or endangers you. Physical assault or battering is a crime, whether it occurs inside or outside of a family. The police have the power and authority to protect you from a physical attack.

Any situation in which you are forced to participate in unwanted, unsafe, or degrading sexual activity is sexual abuse. Forced s*x, even by a spouse or intimate partner with whom you also have consensual s*x, is an act of aggression and domestic violence. Furthermore, people whose partners abuse them physically and sexually are at a higher risk of being seriously injured or killed.

Physical and sexual assaults, or threats to commit them, are the most apparent forms of domestic abuse and violence and are usually the actions that allow others to become aware of the problem. However, regular use of other abusive behaviors by the abuser, when reinforced by one or more acts of physical violence, make up a larger system of abuse. Although physical assaults may occur only once or occasionally, they instill the fear of future violent attacks and allow the abuser to take control of the victim's life and circumstances.

Emotional Abuse

Not all abusive relationships involve physical violence. Just because you’re not battered and bruised doesn’t mean you’re not being abused. Many men and women suffer from emotional abuse, which is no less destructive. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often minimized or overlooked—even by the person experiencing it. This type of abuse doesn’t involve physical violence, though it might involve threats of violence directed toward you or your loved ones. It’s characterized by a person’s words, actions, and the consistency of these behaviors. Abuse may start gradually, but it happens again and again.

Emotional abuse includes undermining a person's sense of self-worth through constant criticism; belittling one's abilities; name-calling or other verbal abuse; damaging a partner's relationship with the children; or not letting a partner see friends and family.

Signs of an abusive relationship

It may not always be obvious that you’re in an abusive relationship. It can be common for someone who is being abused to believe that it’s their own fault and that they somehow ‘deserve’ the abuse. Remember: you’re never to blame for the way an abusive person treats you.

A relationship can be violent and abusive without physical violence. It can include emotional, sexual and physical abuse, and may involve control of your finances.

Here are some signs to look for 👇👇👇.

Possessiveness

👉 They check on you all the time to see where you are, what you're doing and who you are with

👉 They try to control where you go and who you see, and get angry if you don't do what they say

👉 They constantly send text messages and want to know what you are doing every moment of the day.

Jealousy

👉 They accuse you of being unfaithful or of flirting

👉 They isolate you from family and friends, often by behaving rudely to them.

Put-downs

👉 They put you down, either publicly or privately, by attacking your intelligence, opinions, mental health or capabilities.

👉 They constantly compare you unfavourably to others.

👉 They blame you for all the problems in your relationship, and for their violent outbursts.

👉 They say things like, ‘No one else will want you.’

Threats

👉 They yell or suck, and deliberately break things that you value

👉 They threaten to use violence against you, your family, friends or a pet.

Physical and sexual violence

👉 They push, shove, hit or grab you, or make you have sex or do things you don’t want to do.

👉 They harm you, your family members or your pets.

Domestic violence remedy

Domestic violence is more than just a relationship issue, it is a crime.  Solutions to domestic violence need to include both short and long-term strategies. Short-term strategies should be made up of assistance programs that defend the woman who has witnessed abuse or is currently being abused. They frequently focus on the critical period faced by the victim after he/she leaves the home and is provided with food, shelter and guidance. This is the period when the woman or man who is the victim of abuse is most vulnerable. It is the time that the victim seeks retribution from the abuser, or when she may be forced to go back to the house out of desperation. Long-term strategies are aimed at educating the public and empowering the victim to reinstate her life without violence. It also includes developing programs that create atmosphere of anti-domestic violence in the community.

Any intervention given to the survivors of domestic violence need to include interrelationship among health, legal and social sectors to ensure that stability is maintained and the victim is not constantly referred to a new agency. One particular ground-breaking strategy is to make use of “family crisis centers,” or “victim advocates” to serve as the victim’s connection to a number of sectors.

Thanks for reading ❤️

8th, March 2022.