Sticks & Stones

You may have heard the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. Over the years, parents taught their children to use this saying as a response when another child said something mean and nasty. Children were led to believe that unkind words were harmless.

Today we know better – words can cause harm. Just ask anyone that has experienced verbal and emotional abuse, a type of domestic violence. Underneath the smile and engaging conversations when in public, lie the still open wounds and scars of years of domestic abuse.

Black and Blue

October is recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention (NDVAP) Month, a time to raise awareness about intimate partner violence (IPV) and recognize the courageous survivors.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, as many as 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner. Violence suffered by men from women is usually lower-level violence such as slapping while men are more likely to engage in extreme violence and may even kill their partners.

Without a Trace

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship used by one intimate partner to have power and control over the other partner. The abusive behavior can be  physical, emotional, economic, and sexual abuse. The National Domestic Violence Hotline’s warning signs of abuse include:

• Telling you that you never do anything right.
• Showing extreme jealousy of your friends or time spent away from them.
• Preventing or discouraging you from spending time with others, particularly friends, family members, or peers.
• Insulting, demeaning, or shaming you, especially in front of other people.
• Controlling finances in the household.

Happy Reading!

Suzanne Daniels