What is Domestic Violence and How to Identify it?

You have probably heard the terms domestic violence and domestic abuse. You know that there are people out there who suffer from some form of domestic violence on a daily basis.

Time and again you keep hearing these incidents where a victim of domestic violence has taken their own life. Or that someone lost their life as a result of the domestic abuse faced by them.

You might have noticed an associate or a loved one with bruises that they can’t explain. Or even seen a neighbour speak to their spouse or some other family member in a despicable manner.

So, what is domestic violence really? What if you are facing it and don’t even realise it? Let us first try to understand a little bit about domestic violence.

First and foremost, you need to understand that anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. Initially people held the perception that only the violence shown by a man towards his wife can be defined as domestic violence.

But now, it has been defined that a person from any socioeconomic background, age, race, gender, education level, religion or sexual orientation can be a victim of domestic violence.

So, by this definition, spouses, some other family members, children, parents, cohabitants, sexual partners, dating partners and intimate partners – anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse or domestic violence. And anyone can be the perpetrator of domestic violence as well.

How to identify domestic violence?

Identifying domestic violence is not always so easy. In instances where domestic abuse takes place in the form of physical violence, identifying it is easy. However, there are other forms of domestic violence, which are not that easy to detect.

In some cases, the person suffering from domestic violence does not realise that she or he is facing domestic abuse and violence.

And there are other cases where the person committing physical abuse or some other form of domestic violence does not realise that what he or she is doing can be defined a violence.

So, how do you identify domestic violence?

Go through the following points and see if any of them applies to you. If it does, then you might be a victim of domestic violence.

• Does your partner blame you for how they feel or act?
• Does your partner or a family member insult you in private but is affectionate in front of other people?
• Does your partner or a family member insult you in public as well?
• Does your partner force you to carry out sexual acts that you are not comfortable with?
• Do you feel like there is no way for you to get away from the relationship?
• Does your partner or family member use threats to make you obey their commands?
• Does your partner or family member try to stop you from spending time with friends or family?
• Does your partner or family member try to stop you from getting a job?
• Does your partner or family member lock you up in a room after a fight?
• Does your partner or family member try to stop you from entering the house after a fight?
• Does your partner or family member try to embarrass you in front of your friends or other family members?
• Does your partner or family member put down your accomplishments?
• Does your partner or family member hit, pinch, punch, push or shove you around?
• Does your partner or family member tell you that you are nothing without them?
• Does your partner or family member verbally abuse you when they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs? And then later blame their behaviour on the alcohol and drugs they consumed.
• Does your partner or family member call you constantly when you are outside?
• Does your partner or family member keep a track of your location when you are out shopping or meeting friends?
• Are you scared of your partner or family member?
• Do you constantly make excuses in front of other people for your partner or family member’s behaviour?
• Do you always end up doing what your partner or family member wants to do rather than what you want?
• Are you always trying to make sure that you don’t do anything that might make your partner or family member angry?
• Do you feel like your partner’s behaviour and personality might change if you change something in yourself?
• Do you stay with your partner because you are scared of what he or she might do if you break-up or get a divorce?

Does counselling for domestic violence really work?

There have been many instances where domestic violence counselling has helped couples and families struggling with domestic abuse and domestic violence issues.

For domestic violence counselling to truly work, the person who seeks domestic violence counseling should have the desire to improve their situation.

Be it a victim of domestic violence or a perpetrator of domestic abuse, domestic abuse counselling can help in changing the mindset of both.

However, in some cases, legal aid might be required for a person to get away from domestic abuse and violence.

Domestic violence counselling is not just about trying to solve domestic abuse issues. It is also about helping the domestic violence victims who are trying to move on after facing domestic violence.
In fact, a trained therapist for domestic violence survivors can help them overcome the challenges they face after going through something so traumatic.

Sometimes, a person facing domestic violence does not even realise that he or she is a victim of domestic violence. Consulting a domestic violence counsellor helps a person identify the domestic violence issues they are facing.

If you are facing domestic violence or domestic abuse issues, then you don’t have to keep suffering. Contact a domestic abuse counsellor today!

Consult an Online Counsellor @ OnlineCounselling4U

If you are someone who has been facing domestic violence, then you need to seek help. The well-trained online psychologists at OnlineCounselling4U are equipped to listen to your woes. They are here to provide domestic violence counselling whenever you need it. You can chat with a certified online therapist via phone calls, video calls, chats and emails. Our online therapy sessions are available in multiple languages. You can access our online counselling services from any place in the world.

Call us to book a session today.

Contact us at +91 9811335150

Email us – info@onlinecounselling4u.com

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