| Without realizing how, in many cases a well-nurtured | | | | the proverbial sword of Damocles looms large over |
| relationship too can take a dramatic and violent turn | | | | girls and women of all ages. The saddest part of it all |
| and become what is commonly known as an abusive | | | | is that in majority of the cases, the oppressed |
| relationship. Violence of any type, irrespective of | | | | hesitates to trust and confide in parents, friends, or |
| whom it is aimed at, is an act to be abhorred. | | | | associates with the situation she has been caught in. |
| Although men too are caught on the wrong side | | | | This could be due to fear of further antagonizing the |
| sometimes, in majority of the cases it is women who | | | | oppressor or a feeling of being unprotected. In some |
| bear the brunt and suffer in abusive relationships. | | | | cases, young women and girls keep on enduring an |
| Such instances that often result in death have | | | | abusive relationship under the erroneous feeling of |
| perpetrated even when the woman is known to be | | | | love toward the assailant. |
| pregnant. It is an established fact that most of the | | | | Seeing the growth in such crimes against women, it is |
| violent crimes are committed by known people. It | | | | our bounden duty to educate our young daughters, |
| could be a boyfriend, husband, or a close associate. | | | | sisters, and friends as to how to handle such |
| Admittedly, acts of violence against girls and women | | | | situations. We need to instill in their minds that trying |
| as a result of an abusive relationship are far greater | | | | to hold on to a dead relationship will be of no benefit |
| in number as compared to those for men. | | | | and that the best solution is to take corrective |
| Abusive relationships have the potential of | | | | measures or get out of the relationship totally. |
| manifesting in different forms. Each one of them can | | | | However, abusive relationships are not easy to |
| prove to be more traumatic than the other. Physical | | | | notice. If you want to safeguard your daughter or |
| violence in most cases is curable but the mental | | | | friend against abusive relationships, you need to play |
| torture takes a bigger toll since it can emotionally | | | | a significant role. First of all be alert and try to |
| break down a person. It plays havoc with the life of | | | | analyze any substantial change in behavior in our |
| the victim and the results can be disastrous, causing | | | | loved ones. It is good to have a relationship that |
| depression and other related psychiatric problems. | | | | makes it easy for them to confide. Be sure to lend a |
| Extreme mental distress in its worst manifestation | | | | sympathetic ear, support them, and help and protect |
| leaves indelible scars that in many cases are incurable. | | | | them in all circumstances. |
| The menace of abusive relationships, in the shape of | | | | |