How to Overcome Domestic Violence

There are a few key things you need to know about domestic violence. The first key thing is to know it is a crime. It is punishable by law. You can contact any law enforcement officer and report it at any time and I urge you to do so.

The second key thing is that it is not your fault. No matter how many times you have been called a loser, low life or have been told it is all your fault it is not. This is no easy task to overcome. It will take time but you can overcome it. You are not weak. You are strong. You just have to believe it.

The third key thing to know is that domestic violence hurts other people and not just the victim. This is especially true with children. If you are in an abusive relationship and have children you are subjecting them to the abuse and could potentially be sealing their fate to be an abuser as well. For their sakes you must seek help and remove yourself from the situation immediately.

I would also like to point out that women are not the only victims in domestic violence. Men can be victims as well. Women are the most common, but not the only. The same keys applies to men.

There are some warning signs to look for of an abusive relationship. One of the signs to look for is jealousy. Most abusers are very jealous and controlling. Control is actually the root cause of most all abuse cases.

Another warning sign to look for is being cut off from family and friends. This falls in the controlling aspect of it. The abuser feels threatened by family and friends and jealous of the time spent with them. They will want those ties cut off and time with them very limited, if any at all.

A big warning sign to look for is alcohol and drug abuse. Now not all abuse stems from alcohol or drugs but the presence of them can escalate an abusive situation.

If you are shamed or ridiculed in front of others this can also be indicative to an abusive relationship. Anger issues and rages are also very indicative to domestic violence. It can sometimes not take very much to set them off into a violent rage. In the which you pay for.

How can you help a friend who is in a domestic violence relationship? Here are some things you can do. My first advice is to listen. Try not to judge. Don't threaten to call the cops right then and there. Just listen. If your friend came to you and trusted you with this information you do not need to fly off the handle and show anger at the abuser. Not saying you should not be upset and angry at the abuser, just not at this time.

Be sure and let them know that this thinking they are crazy for staying with him and how could they put up with that. Those thoughts are best left unspoken. You don't want to make them feel worse than they already do. Encourage your friend to seek help. They, and you, do not need to handle this situation alone. It is too much.

Sometimes you may have a friend who is in an abusive situation who will not come to you for help. You may notice tell tale signs and have suspicions of your own. In this situation there are things you can do as well.

First, go and speak with your friend. Ask them about their bruises. Give them a chance to ask for help. Most of the time when confronted about a possible abuse situation the victim will deny it out of embarrassment and shame. If this happens reiterate the fact that it is not their fault and that you care about them and are here for them. Let them know they are not alone. They may even become mad at you for bringing it up but ultimately it is your friend's safety that matters most.