Preventing Interpersonal Violence in Relationships, Part 1

As a therapist, I want to help survivors of dating violence, domestic violence, and abusive relationships recover their sense of safety and self-fulfillment in life. And I want to do more. I want more people to know how grave the damage is to survivors of abuse and sexual assault. I want to see more action and education to stop dating and interpersonal violence and prevent it. Artists and performers can be powerful allies for awareness. In a song “The Whole Damn Year,” singer songwriter Mary J. Blige explains the harrowing experience of a person living with relationship trauma: Bad, how deep the pain is Oh, you just couldn’t believe And yes, I’m good on the surface But I’m a mess, I’m a mess underneath. See Winter took most of my heart And Spring punched me right in the stomach Summer came looking for blood And by Autumn, I was left with nothing It took a whole damn year to repair my body… (Lyrics from “The Whole Damn Year” by Mary J. Blige) Intimate Partner Abuse Intimate partner abuse is so devastating and dangerous, we would hope it is extremely rare. Unfortunately, it is alarming to discover how prevalent and pervasive relationship violence actually is: During Adolescence: “Nearly one in five women and one in seven men have experienced physical, emotional, and sexual violence in a relationship during their adolescent years, ” says the National Institute on Drug Abuse. During a Lifetime: one in three women and one in four men will experience...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Abuse Anger Codependence PTSD Relationships & Love Trauma Women's Issues #metoo controlling behavior dating abuse dating violence Domestic Violence Emotional Abuse Insecurity Intimate Partner Abuse intimidation Jealousy R Source Type: news