October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is any abusive, violent, coercive, forceful, or threatening act or word inflicted by one member of a family or household on another (Mead’s Encyclopedia, 2008). Domestic violence is not just spouse or partner violence. Domestic violence comes in many forms. Domestic Violence is damaging to children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and the elderly.

Abuse is never okay. Many abusers think they are not abusers because they never get physical. They curse, threaten, use manipulation tactics or coercion and control on the people they abuse. Many victims live in fear of the individuals who abuse. Women and children are the most vulnerable.

Domestic violence is sometimes hard to see. Victims learn to live in dysfunctional abusive relationships or households and cope. Sometimes victims need the person that is abusing them and fear they will be homeless and have no way out.

Domestic violence can lead to death by the abuser or suicide because the victim sees no way out.

If you know someone who is being abused their is help for them. Each county nationwide has some form of domestic violence support and legal aid.

Domestic Violence is never okay. Speak up. Speak out.

Resources

National Coaolition Against Domestic Violence

National Womens Coailition Against Violence and Exploitation