Cycle of Abuse
Domestic abuse or violence doesn’t “just happen.” There is actually a pattern or cycle. This cycle can occur over the course of a day, a week, or even longer and can happen hundreds of times in a relationship. Even though this is a common pattern, by no means do all abusive relationships fall in this cycle.
Domestic Violence - The Cylce of Abuse
Last year in Kentucky, over 137,000 individuals and their families were provided treatment for problems associated with domestic violence. This equates to over 375 people in treatment every day, 7 days each week, for the entire year of 2017. Many families are torn apart by the effects of domestic violence and the trauma that can last a lifetime.
Why Don’t They Just Leave?
This month, I have written extensively about domestic violence in an attempt to answer many questions. But the most common question is “Why don’t the women leave the abusive relationship?” To the outsider, they think “if my man ever hit me I’d leave.” But a simplistic view isn’t helpful. The abuse is much more subtle.
Five Signs of an Abusive Relationship
There can be many signs or “red flags” that a person is in an abusive relationship. If a woman is being beaten or sexually assaulted that is an obvious form of abuse. But there are also some more subtle ways that abuse can occur. If you feel as though you never know which “version” of your partner you will get from one day to the next, or you feel as though you have to “walk on eggshells” to prevent his next “blow up” then you may be in an abusive relationship.
Five Characteristics of Batterers
A “batterer” is someone who batters or assaults another person. In this context, we are speaking of abusers. These abusers are overwhelming male. In addition to that, we know quite a bit more about them. Below are some common traits of abusers. A specific one may not be proof of a batterer but taken together they paint a pretty accurate picture of a batterer.