I Was Prisoner In My Own Home

I was a prisoner in my own home. I couldn't look out the window. My mom was in
the hospital for surgery. I couldn't go to the hospital to see my mother unless he
was with me. This is not just the physical abuse, the verbal abuse, the sexual abuse;
it was just everything just at once.
Domestic violence and abuse 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. Noticing and acknowledging the signs of an
abusive relationship are the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear of the
person they love. Domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate. It happens
among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age
ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. Women are more commonly
victimizedespecially verbally and emotionally. The bottom line is that abusive
behavior is never acceptable, whether its coming from a man, a woman, a
teenager, or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued, respected, and safe.
What makes it any fewer okay to hit a woman over a man?
-If you say that a woman is physically inferior, you're being sexist. What if a
bodybuilder woman came up to an obese, nonathletic male and assaulted him?
Would the situation still be worse if the genders were reversed? I thought people
wanted equal rights, not a matriarchy. I thought that's what feminism was all about.
How common you say?
Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or
former partner.
Women experience more than 4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their
partners. Almost one-third of female homicide victims that are reported in police
records are killed by an intimate partner. In 70-80% of intimate partner homicides,
no matter which partner was killed, the man physically abused the woman before
the murder.
Less than one-fifth of victims reporting an injury from intimate partner violence
sought medical treatment following the injury. Intimate partner violence results in
more than 18.5 million mental health care visits each year. Women assaulted by
men they know: The self-completion module of the 2001.
Your partner apologizes and says the hurtful behavior won't happen again but
you fear it will. At times you wonder whether you're imagining the abuse, yet the
emotional or physical pain you feel is real. Sounds familiar?

British Crime Survey research found that "women are most commonly sexually
assaulted by men they know". When the researchers asked women about the last
incident of rape experienced since the age of 16, they found that 45% were raped
by current husbands or partners, 9% by former partners, and a further 29% of
perpetrators were otherwise known to the victim. Only 17% were raped by
strangers. Starts from home, does it?
Take power and control.
Getting out of an abusive or violent relationship isnt easy. Maybe youre still hoping
that things will change or youre afraid of what your partner will do if he discovers
youre trying to leave. Whatever your reasons, you probably feel trapped and
helpless. But help is available. There are many resources available for abused and
battered women. You deserve to live free of fear. Start by reaching out.
Why doesnt she just leave? Its the question many people ask when they learn that
a woman is being battered and abused. But if you are in an abusive relationship,
you know that its not that simple. Ending an important relationship is never easy.
Its even harder when youve been isolated from your family and friends,
psychologically beaten down, financially controlled, and physically threatened. The
only thing that matters is your safety.
Despite what many people believe, domestic violence and abuse is not due to the
abusers loss of control over his or her behavior. In fact, abusive behavior and
violence is a deliberate choice made by the abuser in order to control you. Nothing
can be an excuse to torture!
"Many neighbors, they tend to turn a blind eye to situations, hear arguing,
screaming and see and they're afraid to speak up. They should speak up. They
might be saving somebody's life. I wish somebody would have done that for me. I
wish they would have spoken up," she said.
-CBS News spoke with a
victim of domestic violence.
If you suspect that someone you know is being abused, speak up! If youre
hesitatingtelling yourself that its none of your business, you might be wrong, or
the person might not want to talk about itkeep in mind that expressing your
concern will let the person know that you care and may even save her life.
There are many resources available for abused and battered women, including crisis
hotlines, shelterseven job training, legal services, and childcare.
The pain you go through cuts, scrapes and bruises, fractures, dislocated bones,
hearing loss, vision loss, miscarriage or early delivery, sexually transmitted
diseases, knife wounds, gunshot wounds. Ask yourself, did you picture your life in
such way? Reach out, Now!

The longer you stay in an abusive relationship, the greater the physical and
emotional toll. You might become depressed and anxious. You might begin to doubt
your ability to take care of yourself or wonder if the abuse is your fault. You might
feel helpless or paralyzed.
Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but also has a substantial
effect on family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community
at large. Children, who grow up witnessing domestic violence, are seriously affected
by this crime. Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes
children to numerous social and physical problems, but also teaches them that
violence is a normal way of life - therefore, increasing their risk of becoming
society's next generation of victims and abusers.