Difference between domestic violence and abuse

Many people are confused with the differences between abuse and domestic violence. The strong similarities is why people get confused about the two. I’m going to break down both types of abuse to give you a better understanding on what’s what.

Criminaldefencelawyer.com says that abuse is very simple, it’s the mistreatment of another person physically, psychologically and or sexually. A abuse victim can be anyone children, the elderly, patient's, husband, wife, even pets. When it comes to abuse anyone in general can be a target for the abuse.

Domestic violence is abuse between intimate partners and or spouses. The individuals may be currently partners or been partners in the past. The partners don’t legally have to be married; it could also be a common law marriage.

The two types of abuse are alike because they’re both a form of abuse against another person.  These two types are commonly confused by most people.

Anybody can become a victim of either one. No matter the age, size, or gender you can become a victim of domestic violence or abuse.

HELPGUIDE.Org says “Domestic violence can happen to anyone, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is psychological, rather than physical."

image found at 

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-31126339/stock-photo-domestic-violence-abuse-in-many-forms-background.html copyrighted 2003-2012 
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Interview with domestic violence victims

Since my last blog I interviewed four women. These women are strong, courageous, and beautiful. In the interview I asked them some very personal questions.I’m not going to reveal who these women are till the end of the blog. Throughout the blog as you read I hope you take their personal experiences to heart. Also at the end of this video I will link a short clip about domestic violence.

Interview one M.L
Q-When and where was you born?
A- I was born November 23, 1974 in Richlands Virginia.
Q-Was you ever a victim of domestic violence?
A-Yes I was.
Q-How old was you when the abuse started.
A-I was seventeen years old.
Q-About how long did it last?
A-About eight years.
Q-Did you ever try to leave, and if you did leave what would happen?
A-Yes I left several times. He would hunt me down and make me come back. Once I came back the the abuse would be worse.
Q-Was it hard to leave?
A- Extremely I had nowhere to go. One time I left and I ended up with a brokeback, broke jaw, and a busted ear drum.
Q-Did you ever feel like it was your fault?
A-He made me feel like everything was my fault.
Q-What finally motivated you to get out?
A-He began abusing my children and he began making them watch him abuse me.
Q-Do you still suffer from a lack of self esteem?
A- Yes it took me years to begin getting it back but, it's something that I will never fully regain.
Q-In all how do you feel now, are you happy?
A- I’m very happy and I love my life.

Interview two S.l
Q-Currently how old are?
A-I’m 21.
Q-How did it feel to watch your mother being abused?
A-It was sick and depressing. It made me feel sick.
Q-What do you remember most?
A-Him hitting her, choking her, throwing her down and out of moving vehicles.
Q-Do you remember be abused by your father?
A-Yes I remember it very well.
Q-Do you think going through this at a young age affects your relationships now, especially with men?
A- It does very much.

Interview three R.l
Q-How old are you?
A- I’m 19.
Q- Do you remember your mother being abused by your father?
A yes I do.
Q-Did you ever feel like it was your fault.
A-I’m not really sure. I was too young to remember.
Q-Do you remember being abused by your father.
A- I remember getting major spankings.

As you might have already guessed my blog was about my family. 
The three women I interviewed was my mother Misty and my two sisters Samantha and Rikki. Since I was a small child when this mostly occurred I don’t remember these events happening. But I do know I two also suffered at the hands of my father the same way my mother and sisters did. Personally I do not see my family and I as victims, but as survivors

My mother and I Photo by Bre  love.

Me and the man I call my  father. Photos by  Bre love.

Our family. photos by Bre Love.

My two sisters. photos by Bre Love.

  Domestic violence clip here. This is a short news segment talking about domestic and violence. In the clip two women share their tragic experiences.

Battered Women Syndrome

available at http://www.tower.com/battered-woman-syndrome-as-legal-defense-history-effectiveness-brenda-l-russell-paperback/wapi/116119204 copyrighted 2010

About twenty or more years ago a doctor Dr. Lenore E. Walker discovered a type of syndrome, known as Battered Woman Syndrome. In his recent studies he has found out that the syndrome is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you’ve seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. Therefore from this disorder comes Battered woman Syndrome.

Most people think this disorder is only for women because of the name. However this is untrue. It’s very common with men. This syndrome is also referred to as the Battered Person Syndrome. Since men do not usually come out when they are being abused Battered Man Syndrome is almost unheard of and very uncommon.

They’re several reasons why women and men develop this syndrome. Reasons such as the ones I will list below.  

• still being positively reinforced by the "honeymoon" phase of the battering cycle
• economic dependence upon the batterer
• belief that they can keep the peace
• fear of danger if she were to leave
• threats made by the batterer to hurt her or her children if she left
• loss of self-esteem
• depression or loss of psychological energy necessary to leave

According to Walker The Battered Woman Syndrome, “This syndrome has been used an as an explanation for reactions to abusive situations in court cases but has also been used as an educational tool in order to raise the awareness of the impact that domestic violence can have on women.”

What this is saying that in some situations when the victim lashes out and harms their abuser it’s caused from the syndrome. For example a woman’s charges were dropped from killing her husband because the doctors diagnosed her with Battered Women Syndrome.

Available at http://www.heart-2-heart.ca/men/page4.htm copyrighted 2003