A Scary Holiday

The holidays are right around the corner and should be a joyous and
happy occasion to share with friends, family and loved ones.
Unfortunately this is a time where domestic violence occurs most
often. For some, this holiday season will be a scary and frightening
time. As statistics show, women and children will experience one or
more types of abuse. Domestic Violence doesn't discriminate. It
happens n every type of households in every religion, race, financial
background, language and origin. We need to educate ourselves to the
different types of abuse there are. It's not just the physical abuse
that is a problem, there are many different types. the most common
types of abuse that will be experienced around the holidays
are:
neglect
physical abuse
sexual abuse
emotional abuseHere are a few signs of an Abusive Relationship:

Calling you offensive or derogatory names or insults your
intelligence
Humiliating you in front of other people
Threatens you with physical violence, abandonment, or harm to others
you love
Threatens to harm them self if you leave the relationship or agree to
their wishes
Shows excessive jealousy around your friends and family
Isolates you from friends, family, or your community
Tries to control what you wear, eat, say, spend time with, spend money
on, etc.
Blames you for their actions
Threatens to 'out' you as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans-gender
person
Threatens to infect you with an illness, like a sexually transmitted
infection
Withholds or threatens to withhold medication
Hurts you physically in any way
Pressures you into having any sexual contact against your will
Becomes violent or controlling when they are under the influence of
drugs or alcohol
Is violent towards animals or people
Steals money from you, or wont allow you access your own money
Tries to stop you from working or making moneyThe more we know about
domestic violence the better we are able to see the signs of abuse and
maybe stop ourselves from getting into those types of relationships.
We will also be able to see signs if someone we know and love is in an
unhealthy relationship. We will be able to be there for them if they
need our help. I myself was in an abusive relationship and I'm very
grateful to my family and friends for being there to support me when I
myself needed the help. All I know is that I didn't have the strength
to do it for myself,but I knew I had to do it for my children. I
didn't want my daughter to think it was normal for a man to treat her
the way I had been treated. I didn't want my son to become an abuser
to women. What ever your reason is, just know that you desire not to
live in fear.