Domestic violence is destructive for both the battered and the batterer. Domestic violence can be physical abuse or psychological abuse. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Most of the time the problem is often overlooked, excused or denied.

When people think of domestic abuse, they only focus on the key term DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. But domestic abuse occurs whenever one person in an intimate relationship or a marriage that tries to dominate and control the other person. Domestic violence in most cases is used to overcome power in the relationship.

The perpetrator believes that when he or she abuses the victim involved they encounter power because the other person fears that the incident will happen again if they don't obey what the other wants.

The abusers will use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under their thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you. Domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate. It happens in same sex marriages and also heterosexual couples.

In most instances women are commonly victimized but it does happen to men as well. It’s just not as common. Domestic Violence usually starts out with a form of verbal abuse and then works its way up to becoming physical. While physical injuries are usually the most obvious form of danger, the emotional and psychological consequences of domestic abuse are also severe.

Emotional abuse can strip down the outlook on yourself. The words the perpetrator uses will slowly eat away your self confidence which could lead to depression or anxiety. Nobody deserves to be put through such an appalling situation but the first step to breaking free from this relationship is recognizing the problem.

October is Domestic Violence awareness month. In these type of situations the cases should never be taken lightly. Domestic Violence is something people should never ignore.