Domestic violence is one of the most common issues worldwide, and the United States is no exception. On average, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience some form of domestic abuse at the hands of their intimate partners. According to the official statistics by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), nearly 1200 people experience physical abuse each hour in the United States alone.

Despite the various national and international endeavors to help men and women who experience domestic violence, asking for help is one of the most challenging tasks faced by a victim of domestic abuse. Unfortunately, the ever-present threat to their safety and the risk of alarming the perpetrators prevents the victims from reaching out to their loved ones or law enforcement.

Recognizing Domestic Violence

Domestic abuse or violence comes in many forms, including physical and sexual violence, psychological aggression, stalking, and more. The term applies to all current and past spouses and dating partners. It is important to remember that anyone can be an abuser, whether young or old, educated or illiterate, rich or poor. It is also worth noting that most perpetrators of domestic abuse are violent only with their intimate partners and might not otherwise have a criminal history.

It is essential to recognize the warning signs of abusers, some of which include jealousy, possessive or controlling behavior, short temper, unpredictable emotional outbursts, sexual aggression, degrading or humiliating conduct in front of others or in private, etc. It is essential to your well-being to recognize the red flags and confide in a close friend or family member or contact a domestic abuse helpline as soon as you can.

COVID-19 and Domestic Violence

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the worldwide incidence of domestic violence. While the ‘stay home, save lives’ motto has worked well for controlling the international spread of the virus, it has made life more difficult for the victims of domestic abuse, who are forced to stay indoors with their abusers. The global lockdowns have also reduced the ability of these victims to get away from their abusers and seek help.

Since domestic abusers tend to monitor and control their victims, the men and women who suffer in silence cannot establish contact with the outer world without alerting their abusers in one way or another. It creates a dangerous paradox for the victims whereby they cannot leave the house fearing the virus but have to stay at home where there is a comparatively bigger threat to their safety.

Asking for Help

Once you notice one or more red flags in your intimate partner, like sudden emotional outbursts, irrational anger, or instances of microaggressions towards you, you should try to contact someone and inform them of the danger to your safety and well-being. The best time to try and ask for help is during a call to your friends, family, doctor or family lawyer Brisbane is when you are alone, and your partner is not in your immediate vicinity.

While asking for help is one of the most difficult things to do, it is important to know that there is a wealth of resources, both online and offline, for victims of domestic abuse and violence. If you or your loved one is in danger of domestic abuse, it is important to contact a national domestic violence helpline to form a strategy to ensure that you are brought to safety.