Anger Control

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV), has been broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation.

Linda Oberhaus Executive director, Shelter for Abused Women & Children of Collier County says …

Awareness, perception, definition and documentation of domestic violence differs widely from country to country, and from era to era.

Say “domestic violence” and thoughts like physical abuse, anger, rage, victim, pity, manipulation, “that’s someone else’s problem” and “won’t ever happen to me” may come to mind.

There may even be some blame toward the victim for not leaving.

It’s easier that way — to think that you will never be a victim, that violence doesn’t touch your life.

But, the reality is that it does touch your life and affect your loved ones whether through personal experience, secondhand experience of a friend, co-worker or loved one, or the cost emotionally, psychologically, physically and/or financially to our society.

We’ve already touched on this in a previous National Domestic Violence Awareness Month guest commentary, but it’s important for each of us to understand that we are already experiencing the impact of this violence in our homes, neighborhoods, schools and communities.

To address this abuse, we need to understand that domestic violence, in its many forms, is not about anger, stress, rage or even frustration — although these factors may contribute to the pattern of abuse.

Dating violence, bullying, domestic violence, elder abuse and related child abuse and animal cruelty are about power and control — one person exerting power over another; one person controlling another.

More here: Linda Oberhaus: Domestic violence is not about losing temper, anger management

You are welcome to add your experiences in the comments below about Domestic Violence