Recognizing Red Flags in a Relationship; Getting Out of an Abusive Relationship

Domestic violence happens when someone uses violence or manipulation to maintain power and control over someone they're close to. It can involve violence, intimidation, threats, insults, or psychological manipulation.

The common question posed to survivors is why people stay in abusive relationships, which implies they are to be blamed for the abuse. One in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. It includes a range of behaviors and might not be considered domestic violence in a few cases.

According to National Statistics, on average, almost 20 people per minute are physically abused by their intimate partner in the United States. Annually, more than 10 million men are at risk for abuse.

You are not to blame

Commonly, the people who experienced abuse made their abusers think that it is their fault why such things happened when clearly, it is not.

The abuse will continue if you're expecting your abusive partner to change. While change is not impossible, abusers have emotional and psychological problems, and it is not something that can change in one snap. Change can only happen once an abuser takes full responsibility for their behavior.

It is not easy at first to identify domestic violence. Some relationships are obviously abusive from the outset, which starts subtly and worsens over time.

Thinking you can help your partner is natural as you may think you're the only one who understands him but staying and accepting recurring abuse, you're already reinforcing and enabling their behavior. You're not helping your abuser as you're perpetuating the problem.

Severe and long-term abuse products can cause a syndrome called Battered woman syndrome or battered person syndrome. The battered woman syndrome is considered a type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), per Healthline.

Read Also: Domestic Violence & Child Custody Myths: These Beliefs Will Hurt Families More Than Help Them

Seek professional help

People with battered woman syndrome may feel helpless as they would wrongly believe they deserve the abuse and they can no longer get away from it. People don't report their abuse to the police or loved ones because they think they deserve it.

The syndrome results from domestic abuse, and while it can happen between an intimate couple, domestic abuse is an umbrella term that can also apply to child and elder abuse.

The battered woman syndrome can develop if a person becomes trapped in the cycle of abuse, making it difficult for them to recover control of their lives.

Survivors of any abuse may leave and return several times before separating from their abusive partner for good, as leaving is a process. Research shows that it takes approximately seven attempts before a victim permanently leaves an abusive partner, per Women Against Abuse.

According to a study, Health Consequences of intimate partner violence, battered woman syndrome, and domestic abuse can result in long-term health consequences that can last for a long time, such as chronic back pains, PTSD-like symptoms, damaged joints or arthritis, developing diabetes, and asthma, etc.,

Related Article: What Are The Types of Domestic Violence?