Wednesday, June 30, 2010

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

Image from: http://www.rosefund.org/domestic-violence.html

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