Facts about Abusers, Violence, Why Victims Stay and What You Can Do
Over three million incidents of domestic violence are reported each year, and that includes men as well as women. Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. One-third of women and one-fourth of men will have experienced some sort of interpersonal violence, and for one-fourth of women and one-seventh of men, it’s severe. (For more statistics, visit NCADV.org.)
What isn’t talked about, but is serious, is emotional abuse that ranges from withholding to controlling, and includes manipulation and verbal abuse. The number of people affected is astronomical. Emotional abuse is insidious and slowly eats away at your confidence and self-esteem. The effects are long term, and can take even longer to recover from than blatant violence. (See also, “What is Narcissistic Abuse.”)
Myths about Abuse
Victims of abuse often live in denial, and people who haven’t experienced abuse are quick to judge and don’t understand. Here are some myths about abuse:
- Abuse is physical violence.
- Abusers are easy to spot.
- Partners who stay are weak, poor, or uneducated.
- Enough love can change…
