Overview of Domestic Violence

They have hit you, but they promise they will never do it again.

They say they are sorry.

They say they will change.

They say they love you.

You forgive them.

A week later, they are angry again and they hit you harder than they have ever done before. As always, they claim it is your fault that they got mad. They say they didn’t want to hit you again but you made them.

 

Sound familiar?

 

Abusers almost always lay guilt for their actions on their victims. Some victims begin to believe that the domestic violence in their lives is their own fault. Some victims stay in abusive relationships because they believe no one else will ever love them. Other victims stay because they are ashamed and do not want their family or friends to know that domestic violence is affecting their marriage or relationship.

Abusers often keep their victims isolated, away from family and friends. They often make sure their victims have limited financial resources so they have no money to flee.

Abuse can come in many forms: emotional, physical or sexual. It might begin with a light push or slap. It can become a punch or kick. If abuse is not stopped, it will get worse. Abuse can include threats of harm to you, your family, your children and even your pets. Abuse can be a gradual but consistent wearing down of any good feelings you might have about yourself. Abuse can include stalking, dating violence, jealousy or manipulation.

Abuse can, and sometimes does, end in the ultimate violence – the death of the victim.

 

According to the FBI, a woman in the U.S. is battered every nine seconds. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. In Luzerne County, law enforcement responds to domestic violence incidents on the average of 24 times a day. No one deserves to be abused. Domestic violence is a crime.

 

If you are a victim of domestic violence, help is only a phone call away.