Domestic Violence Prevention

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere. Abuse is about control, and no race, gender, age, or nationality is excluded. Domestic violence prevention starts by being able to recognize the warning signs and knowing where to go for help.

Historically, domestic violence has been linked to female victims, although this isn’t always the case. While domestic violence generally indicates physical abuse, the actual seeds of this violence are often planted long before a punch is ever thrown. Abusers abuse in an attempt to control their victims. In the developmental stages of an abusive relationship, an abuser will try to manipulate or isolate the victim, using an arsenal of psychological weapons: fear, shame, guilt and more.

It’s crucial to pay attention to early warning signs to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of abuse. If your partner exhibits widely-varying fluctuations in mood, from rage to joy and back again, or extreme jealousy, especially in more typically non-threatening situations, such as time spent with same-sex friends. Any attempt on the part of your significant other to isolate you from family and friends or to manipulate any of your relationships is a warning sign. Threats against you and suicidal threats are also forms of manipulation. While these behaviors do not necessarily indicate future physical abuse, it’s important to recognize that these are very often precursors in the relationships that do escalate to violence.

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to recognize that you’re in a dangerous relationship. It’s vital to frequently step back and examine the status of your emotional health, as well as the health of the relationship. If you fear your partner or find yourself avoiding social settings or friends or family in order to make your partner happy, these could be signs you’re in an unhealthy situation, and perhaps, even an abusive one. Exercise can be a great way to deal with stress- for tips visit www.homefitnessequipment.org. Kids can derive the most benefit from their home exercise equipment if they use it in exciting and engaging ways.

If you are being abused, it’s important to realize you are not alone. Abuse is never the fault of the victim, though it may feel that way. This is typically a tactic by the abuser to shame you into silence. Help is available. The first and hardest step can be admitting you are in a dangerous situation and need to get out of it. There are many people you can turn to. If you do not feel you can turn to a trusted family member or friend, you can find local agencies that deal with domestic violence and spousal abuse on the internet, in your phone book’s yellow pages, and even posted on public billboards.