A study of recent state reports on the level of domestic violence of the highest level of severity reveals that the number of such crimes has nearly doubled in the past decade. In the last year, 205 people have been fatally victimized by domestic violence in Texas, including 179 women and 26 men. And all of these incidents happened in families between intimate partners. The statistics of domestic violence risks increasing among firearms owners are horrifying. According to police data, having a home gun increases the risk of murders in domestic violence situations by 500%. Every day we are seeing shocking reports of new and renewed incidents of domestic violence in our state.
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month and as a responsible media organization, we feel we must speak more about this topic and give readers a quick guide to recognizing and protecting themselves as potential victims of domestic violence
"Domestic violence" Has a Wide Spectrum
Domestic violence is a complex and serious topic. Not long ago, the social network TikTok attracted public attention with the sensational “happy house” trend where thousands of users filmed videos of scenes or sounds of domestic violence that accompany them every day.
Family members usually submit to violence by one of the household relatives. It is often a married couple or intimate partner, but it is not uncommon for children and elderly senior parents to be involved.
In contrast to the obvious facts, when violence is physical, there are many facets to abusive behavior. Psychologists say that the cycle between the abuser and the victim may begin with less traumatic types of violence and repeat until it often ends in beatings or death.
Types of Family Violence that are Important to Know About:
-
Psychological violence: insults, ignoring, blackmail, threats, bullying, control over the victim's life, forcing some unwanted actions.
-
Emotional violence: constant criticism from the partner (too fat, stupid, badly dressed, ugly, etc.), public humiliation, gaslighting.
-
Financial abuse: hyper control of spending, restricting and managing a person's money without their permission.
-
Sexual violence: rape or any other intimate contact without the active consent of the partner.
-
Physical violence: it is not only hitting but also slapping, punching, pushing and kicking, throwing and crushing things that signal the coming of this phase.
Safety Islands: Where to Go for Help
The state of Texas has an active domestic violence program. Especially with such a rapid increase in cases, the authorities in the state are making more efforts and allocating larger budgets to expand assistance and provide more professional services not only for victims but also for preventive care. In the state courts, there are social lawyers who come to the aid of the victims and help them to seek legal justice.
Still, before cases go to court, people have to find ways to protect themselves. If you are involved in a difficult family situation and need protection from any type of family violence, Texas residents can lean on these options:
-
24/7 hotline: by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) trained volunteers and psychologists provide counseling.
-
Safe Shelter Options: Several respected organizations in the state provide domestic violence survivors with access to safe, anonymous housing options to help them leave a violent situation immediately.
-
Victim Advocacy Program: provides highly trained, specialized support and assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes.
-
Family Protection Program: prevention activities to inform, prevent, and solve cases of domestic violence and child abuse.
-
Mental Health Support Teams: counseling and emotional and mental health services to help victims and family members cope with PTSD and other effects of violence.
Final Words
As the official sad statistics show, domestic violence continues to thrive in the state of Texas, despite great efforts on the part of Volotentern and state organizations. Awareness of the types and manifestations of domestic abuse makes the situation a little better, helping to identify potentially dangerous cases early. However, the problem will still require a lot of work among professionals to find additional ways to prevent and reduce domestic aggression.
Even in the early stages of a relationship, it is so important to spot “red flags” and be able to distinguish between different types of psychological pressures to protect ourselves from potentially difficult and violent relationships with partners. Confidence in families should be built from a respectful and caring position of maintaining each other's boundaries and rights, based on mutual well-being and harmony. But if the situation takes a turn for the worse. It is best to seek the help of an experienced family psychologist, who can help identify early manifestations of abusive behavior.
