Domestic Violence does not have to be physical

Domestic violence occurs everyday more often than people may realize. Raising awareness that it is not limited to physical harm is very important.When the domestic violence is used some automatically assume that physical harm is being done. I would like to share some signs that will raise awareness to these factors.

According to Melinda Smith, M.A.2013 "The aim of emotional abuse is to chip away at your feelings of self-worth and independence. If you’re the victim of emotional abuse, you may feel that there is no way out of the relationship or that without your abusive partner you have nothing.

Emotional abuse includes verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling, blaming, and shaming. Isolation, intimidation, and controlling behavior also fall under emotional abuse. Additionally, abusers who use emotional or psychological abuse often throw in threats of physical violence or other repercussions if you don’t do what they want. 

You may think that physical abuse is far worse than emotional abuse, since physical violence can send you to the hospital and leave you with scars. But, the scars of emotional abuse are very real, and they run deep. In fact, emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse—sometimes even more so."(Melinda Smith, M.A.2013).

This is one thing that I did not realize while I was being mentally abused for some time during my marriage. I did not realize that my child was suffering as well. To a parent this is hard to take in all at once. However, one must remain strong for their children.  Many people stay in relationships like this as they are comfortable and it is what they know. Some may even be fearful to remain alone. The partner may also make them feel as though they are responsible for their happiness.

 




 

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