Tuesday, July 30, 2013

An Epidemic of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence are behaviors in an intimate relationship in which one partner uses physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or economic threats or actions to gain or maintain power and control over their significant other. It is a social problem which does not discriminate against age, sex, race, culture, education, religion, sexuality, marital status, social class, or employment status.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience some form of domestic violence in her lifetime; approximately 4 million women a year. Although the vast majority of recorded incidents of domestic violence are women, men also suffer from domestic violence. According to a national study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Justice released in December, 2011, an estimated 5.4 million men were victims of intimate partner violence. Approximately 2.3 million were victims of serious physical violence.

What are some signs of being abused or in an abusive relationship?
·  Physical abuse is any unwanted aggressive physical behavior such as hitting, biting, choking, kicking or restraining you.
·  Emotional abuse is name-calling, insults, threatens to hurt you or loved ones, humiliation or criticism.
·  Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to, sexual assault, rape, pressured sexual situations, forced prostitution and being hurt during sex.
·  Psychological abuse is when someone threatens you or someone you care about, stalking, destroying personal property and use of fear.
·  Economic abuse is controlling the finances, refusing to share money, interfering with education or financial obligations.

Traumatic experiences such as domestic violence can lead to a variety of emotional and psychological symptoms. Many survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, trust issues, substance abuse and anxiety.  If you or someone you have recently left an abusive relationship, counseling and/or support groups can help you heal, feel empowered and regain control. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224.