| During a counseling session with a client recently, I | | | | other women (or men - God forbid) call your home, |
| realized that many women may not recognize | | | | come to your home or otherwise disrespect you and |
| domestic violence in its other forms so that is the | | | | your home is all domestic violence. Draining your joint |
| focus of this article. | | | | checking account or spreading ugly rumors about you |
| | | | - all emotional warfare. |
| 1. Domestic violence includes physical attack of any | | | | Finally, rarely does physical abuse start out as such. |
| kind. This includes pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, | | | | Domestic violence - in fact any kind of violence - |
| punching, kicking, stomping, etc. Any physical contact | | | | usually starts with a word. |
| that is frightens you is meant to do just that and no, | | | | Your spirit will let you know you are being abused. |
| it's not all in your mind. If you felt frightened, you | | | | Don't ignore your spirit. Don't worry about what |
| were supposed to feel frightened. It's the spirit, your | | | | people will say. Don't worry about staying for your |
| gut, and intuition - whatever you want to call it, telling | | | | children (you're doing them greater harm by staying). |
| you that you are in danger, my dear. | | | | Don't worry about how you will support yourself (if |
| 2. Domestic violence includes verbal abuse. Verbal | | | | you're dead or badly beaten - that won't matter). |
| abuse can be cursing, threatening to kill you or do | | | | If you need help leaving, get help. Talk to your local |
| you or your children bodily harm. Verbal abuse | | | | domestic violence shelter, your pastor, a co-worker, |
| includes yelling and getting all up in your face without | | | | your supervisor, your friends, your family. Make sure |
| ever touching you. | | | | the person you ask for assistance can give you the |
| 3. Domestic violence includes emotional abuse. | | | | assistance you need and that they are able and |
| Purposely doing things to inflict emotional pain on you | | | | willing to get involved. Get out now. |
| is domestic abuse. Not coming home at night, having | | | | |