Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is an issue that has become more serious as the years have passed. It doesn’t discriminate between age, gender, sexual orientation, race, socioeconomic status, or anything else; it can happen to anyone. Abuse can come in many different forms: physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse are the most common.

Physical abuse can vary in its levels of intensity. It can be a scratch, bruise, burn or something else that has caused someone physical pain. It’s usually somewhat easy to detect if marks are left behind, but frequently, abusers strike their victims in places that are easily hidden by clothing. It is important to keep notice if someone seems afraid of their partner and seems to have a lot of accidents.

Psychological and emotional abuse are similar in that they both affect the victim’s mental well being. The abuser may isolate their victim from their loved ones, try to control many aspects of their life, and attack their self esteem by calling them names or making them feel worthless. This puts the victim in a state that makes them feel trapped and helpless in the abuser’s world.

Sexual abuse can be more harmful than any other abuse because it may leave both physical and emotional scars. If any type of sexual act is performed against someone’s will, it is considered abuse, and sometimes even rape, and can leave an individual damaged for the rest of their life.

Helping people that end up in a domestic abuse situation can be very difficult. Abusers can be very dangerous and it is important to keep that in mind when handling the situation. People that are victims of domestic abuse should develop a safe escape plan (including a packed bag and a safe place to go), as well as reach out to people that they trust. In any situation, it is important to be careful and precise.

It is estimated that a woman is beaten every 15 seconds and unfortunately people continue to be affected by domestic abuse every day. People are raising awareness across the world, and hopefully the future generations will see fewer victims.

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

Sources:
http://helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/domestic_violence

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Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA's)

Children that grow up in a family where alcoholism is present tend to develop differently than children that are raised in an “average” household. They are not sure what to expect from their alcoholic parent and they learn to live in a world where chaos and confusion are normal. These ACOA’s eventually develop patterns of survival skills to cope with their unstable lifestyles, and these habits create issues in adulthood.

There are a few common characteristics of ACOA’s:

1.They are extremely fearful of losing control in their lives. This fear impacts their relationships with other people, as well as themselves. They generally like to be in control, and to avoid vulnerability, and these tendencies greatly affect how they live their lives.

2.They usually have issues with trust as well. “Repeatedly told to ignore the obvious, deny their own feelings, and distrust the accuracy of their own perceptions, ACOA's eventually begin to distrust not only other people but their own feelings and senses as well.”

3.They often feel uncomfortable expressing their own feelings. When they were younger, their feelings were probably met with disapproval and that teaches them that it is safer to keep their thoughts and emotions to themselves.

4.They often become over-responsible and strive for perfection. They may set very high standards for themselves, and be overly critical if they fail to meet them. When they were younger, they may have blamed themselves for the alcoholic’s problems and the yearning to make things better may never go away.

5.They generally avoid taking care of themselves and spend their time caring for other people instead. They may consider satisfying their emotional needs as being weak or vulnerable, so they tend to avoid them altogether.

ACOA’s may also fear abandonment, be more prone to compulsive behaviors, and/or struggle maintaining intimate relationships.

Unfortunately, what ACOA’s come to learn is that alcoholism (and other types of addiction) affect more than just the person addicted; it is a disease that can have everlasting affects on all of the people surrounding it.

For more information visit: www.alliedtrades-online.com

Sources:
http://www.mental-health-matters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=434
http://addictionrecoverybasics.com/adult-children-of-alcoholics-5-common-characteristics/

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