Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors aimed at manipulating and controlling the victim. These behaviors may include physical and sexual assaults but also verbal or emotional abuse. The victim may feel frightened, that she has no control over her life, and blame herself for the abuse.
Abuse is caused by the abusers need for power and control. Many abusive partners do not accept responsibility for their abusive behaviors. Often, they make excuses for their actions by blaming stress, abuse of alcohol, loss of control, or the behavior of the victim.
Victims of domestic violence stay everyday in abusive relationships because of love, fear for their lives, fear of deportation, worry about their children, worry about their pets, lack of financial stability, lack of support, among many other reasons.
If you believe you are a victim of domestic violence in any way, please call us at 941-627-6000. An advocate is available to speak to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please, also click safety planning for a customized plan for safety.
C.A.R.E. Inc. is pleased to provide or facilitate accommodations, including American Sign Language interpreters, assistive listening devices, and alternative formats of printed materials, upon request from persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or are living with disabilities. Please request appropriate assistance from any of our staff.
Physical abuse is any intentional and unwanted contact with you or something close to your body. Sometimes abusive behavior does not cause pain or even leave a bruise, but it’s still unhealthy.
Examples of physical abuse are:
Sexual abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually they don’t want to do. It can also refer to behavior that impacts a person’s ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including oral sex, rape or restricting access to birth control and condoms.
It is important to know that just because the victim “didn’t say no,” doesn’t mean that they meant “yes.” When someone does not resist an unwanted sexual advance, it doesn’t mean that they consented. Sometimes physically resisting can put a victim at a bigger risk for further physical or sexual abuse.
Some think that if the victim didn’t resist, that it doesn’t count as abuse. That’s not true. It’s still is. This myth is hurtful because it makes it more difficult for the victim to speak out and more likely that they will blame themselves. Whether they were intoxicated or felt pressured, intimidated or obligated to act a certain way, it’s never the victim’s fault.
Some examples of sexual assault and abuse are:
Emotional abuse includes non-physical behaviors such as threats, insults, constant monitoring or “checking in,” excessive texting, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking.
There are many behaviors that qualify as emotional or verbal abuse:
You are being stalked when a person repeatedly watches, follows or harasses you, making you feel afraid or unsafe. A stalker can be someone you know, a past boyfriend or girlfriend or a stranger. While the actual legal definition varies from one state to another, here are some examples of what stalkers may do:
Dating violence can take place in person or electronically (such as repeated texting, posting sexual pictures of a partner online, cyberstalking, cyber harassment, etc.). Unhealthy relationships can start early in life and last a lifetime. Teens often think behaviors like teasing and name calling are a “normal” par of a relationship, but these behaviors can become abusive and develop into more serious forms of violence.
Dating violence is a widespread issue that has serious long-term and short-term effects. Many teens do not report it because they are afraid to tell friends and family.
According to the Center for Disease Control
Dating violence can have a negative effect on health throughout life. Youth who are victims are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, engage in unhealthy behaviors, like using tobacco, drugs and alcohol, or exhibit antisocial behaviors and think about suicide. Youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at a higher risk for victimization during college as well.
According the the Center for Disease Control, factors that increase risk for harming a dating partner include…
If you are suspecting that your friend is experiencing some form of abuse, be it physical, emotional or sexual, there are things you can do to help. Do not just assume it will work itself out because it usually just gets worse with time.
It is important for you not to judge a victim’s response. One victim may react very emotionally and another may be extremely calm. No matter how victims react, their emotions are normal and okay.
Some common and immediate reactions to sexual victimization:
Over time, these immediate reactions may fade, but other emotions and difficulties may continue for sometime throughout a victim’s recovery.
Long-term reactions to sexual victimization:
RAINN stands for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network and according to their data:
Victims of sexual assault are:
The following questions may help you examine how dangerous your situation is and how it is affecting your life. The number of “yes” answers does not necessarily indicate greater or lesser danger, but answering these questions can alert you to what you may already suspect about the danger of your situation. Remember: domestic violence can lead to death.
