The Effects of Domestic Violence

Each year over two million people -- mostly women -- fall victim to dometic violence. Everyone in the household is affected. Once you're in the cycle of abuse, it's often difficult to get out. How does it affect you and your family? What can you do to protect yourself? Here are some answers.

What Is Domestic Violence?
Dometic violence occurs when one family member or intimate partner willfully intimidates, physicaly and/or sexually assaults, or verbally abuses another family member, spouse, or partner. It usually continues over a long period of time and gets more frequent and severe over time.

Types of Abuse
The abuse is not limited to physical harm or "battering." A victim can be sexually or psychologically abused as well. Often a victim is hurt in more than one of these ways. Here are the main types of abuse:

• Physical abuse includes hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, punching, choking, being hit with an object or a weapon, being held down or left in a dangerous place, etc.
• Sexual abuse is when a person is forced to participate in sexual activity or situation against his or her will.
• Psychological or emotional abuse is when a person is threatened, intimidated, humiliated, yelled at, blamed, made to feel inferior or stupid, other otherwise emotionally hurt.

Who Are the Victims?
Anyone regardless of age, gender, race, socio-economic status, education, or religion can be a victim of domestic violence. Most victims are female. Here are some additional characteristics that may put you at a higher risk, if they apply to you:

• Between the ages of 17 and 28
• Single, divorced, or separated
• Abuse alcohol or drugs or your partner does
• Pregnant
• Excessively jealous or possessive partner

The Cycle of Abuse
Like their victims, abusers can come from any background. Many were victims of or exposed to domestic violence as children. For them, abuse is a "normal" part of life. About one-third of women who are physically abused grew up in a household where it happened to their mother. Adults who were abused as children are more likely to abuse their own children. It's an ongoing cycle of abuse that's very hard to break.

The Effects of Domestic Violence
The damage caused by domestic violence is immediate (physical injuries) and long-term. It can lead to severe psychological and emotional problems, including self-neglect or self-injury; depression, anxiety, and panic attacks; alcohol and/or drug abuse; chronic pain; eating and sleeping disorders; sexual dysfunction; and attempted suicide.
 
What to Do
If you're a victim of domestic violence, the obvious thing to do is leave the abuser. But it's not always that simple. After years of being psychologically abused, you may believe that you deserve to be treated this way. You may feel defeated and see no way out. You may keep hoping that things will get better. Or you may be fearful of what will happen to you (or your children) if you try to leave.

Get Help
If you are in an abusive relationship, call the police, the toll-free National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or a local domestic violence crisis center. Always remember, you are not alone and you can get help.