Posts from ‘March, 2009’

Domestic violence not only has a significant impact on the victim, but also the children. It can especially be traumatic if the child was close to the violence seeing and hearing what is going on. Also the younger the child, the harder it is for them to understand. The severity of the violence are other factors. Children may even be victims of physical abuse as well.

The following are a variety of emotional responses and consequences children will exhibit as a result of exposure to domestic violence.

• intense terror

• fear of death

• rage

HOW TO LET YOUR FRIENDS HELP YOU

If you are a domestic violence victim, let people who care help you.

1. Confide in someone your trust.

   If you have a friend or relative who cares about your safety, tell them about the abuse. Sharing a burden with someone makes it lighter.

2. Don’t get talked into taking action that doesn’t feel right to you.

   You are the only one who knows if you are ready to leave your relationship, go to the police, or seek emergency shelter.

This is a continuation of the domestic blog series. First blog was on myths of domestic violence, while the second blog focused on the cycle of domestic violence. Today’s blog is on what to do if you know someone who is a domestic violence victim.

1. Establish rapport so that the victim is comfortable talking.

   The conversation will be a difficult and sensitive one.

2. If you have a close relationship, don’t be afraid of bringing up the subject.

   Let the victim know of your concerns and that you care for him/her. Say what you see is happening and how you want to help. Explain that physical violence in a relationship is never acceptable. There’s no excuse for it- not alcohol, financial pressure, etc.

There are many different types of domestic abuse: child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence. This blog will be a continuation of the last blog, focusing on today we’ll focus on the last type of domestic abuse: domestic violence.

Stage one- Tension building

Abuser: feels edgy, moody, is easily agitated, unpredictable, and shows heightened anxiety
Victim: feels like they are walking on egg shells and begins to fear abuser’s edgy mood. They monitor the abuser’s behavior carefully and waits for violence to explode. The victim feels escalating fear and tension as the abuser exerts power and increases control.

All to frequently the media bombards us with news about a high-profile domestic violence cases (most recently Rihanna and boyfriend Chris Brown). It brings to plain view the harsh reality of domestic violence. According to a National Violence Against Women Survey, 22 percent of women are physically assaulted by a partner or date during their lifetime, resulting in two million injuries and 1,300 deaths. The statistics are daunting. Nearly 25 percent of women have been raped and/or physically assaulted by an intimate partner during their lives. 15.4 percent of gay men, 11.4 percent of lesbians and 7.7 percent of heterosexual men, are assaulted by a date or intimate partner during their lives. More than 1 million women and 371,000 men are stalked by partners each year.