Wednesday

The Types of Domestic Violence and How to Fight Back

Today, domestic violence is becoming a well-known problem, but few people realize that women in romantic relationships aren't the only victims. Domestic violence is defined as any violence that occurs in a household, whether between close family relationships or even among distant relatives who happen to be living under the same roof. The most widely publicized forms of domestic violence include that between the husband or father as abuser and girlfriends, wives, and children as victims, although it can actually occur between any family members.

Domestic abuse may occur in a wide variety of situations. It may include not only physical abuse, but also sexual abuse, in which the abuser uses force to compel the victim to participate in a sexual act. This can occur even if the victim and the abuser are married or in a romantic relationship. Although identification of physical or sexual domestic abuse is not difficult to uncover by those closest to the victims, it is often accompanied by emotional abuse. The symptoms of this type of domestic abuse are more difficult to uncover. Emotional abuse that falls under the category of domestic abuse may include financial dependence on the abuser, humiliation or embarrassment in public, or isolation from friends or family. This type of abuse makes it more difficult for victims of domestic violence to reach out for help, and leaves lasting psychological scars.

Even when those closest to the victim are aware of the situation, putting an end to the violence is a bit harder. It is all too easy to tell victims of ongoing domestic violence or verbal assaults to simply get out of the situation. Victims are often reluctant to break apart family relationships, especially if kids are involved, or have been conditioned to accept this mistreatment at the hands of their abuser. As a result, domestic violence may go on for years. In the most problematic cases, victims never leave the relationship, and may even end up dying at the hands of their abuser.

Standing up against the abuser or speaking out about the situation may be the most effective means of stopping it, but it's also the most problematic. Those who are abused are often fearful of retribution from the abuser, and instead hope that the problem will go away on its own. Many victims feel that they have nowhere to turn and no resources to get out of the situation. The longer the domestic violence and abuse continues, the more resigned victims may become to it.

The key to escaping domestic violence is empowerment and confidence. Victims of domestic abuse must realize that they do not have to remain victims. Protection from the abuser is available in many forms, including pepper sprays, stun guns, and TASER devices. The point of such self defense devices is to enable victims of violence, whether domestic violence by a close relative, or a random street attack, to fight back. With regard to domestic violence and most other violent situations, awareness is essential. You have to be aware of what is going on around you, and make the conscious decision to not become a victim of the situation.

Resist Attack has a full range of pepper sprays to keep you and your family safe. Also check for current specials on our tasers.

By Richard Armen

1 comment:

Nora said...

I'm concerned about the absolute impossibility to put some kind of restrain on a physically abusive partner. You can get help only if there is some real abuse going on...and then it can be too late. Why not consider abusive personality as a kind of social disease (the power and control disease) and begin talking about medical ways of control? There are drugs for everything, but to control anger attacks and abusive behaviors...
Not in this country, but in Latin America, where you can get all the prescription pills you want, there was this woman severely beaten by a husband, who needed him to finish raise a group of six children. Well, she stopped the abuse by putting some anxiety controlling drops n his breakfast....and he stopped the abuse. In fact, he was almost normal and the rage stopped!
He never knew that he was medicated, but that was the perfect solution to have him functioning as a normal person in the house and helping with the children.
Doctors should take this issue and find a way to impose some medication on angry men, as to have another alternative to leaving him and raising kids in broken homes with a single mother.

God didn't put you with an abusive mate. Your flesh did.