LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: R&B singer Chris Brown (L) appears in court with his attorney Mark Geragos for a probation progress report on November 18, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his pop star girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammy Awards party in 2009. He was given a sentence of five years probation and ordered to complete 180 days of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: R&B singer Chris Brown (L) appears in court with his attorney Mark Geragos for a probation progress report on November 18, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting his pop star girlfriend Rihanna after a pre-Grammy Awards party in 2009. He was given a sentence of five years probation and ordered to complete 180 days of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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There seems to be more and more stories in the news about domestic violence. During a one-year period in the United States more than 10 million women and men are victims of physical violence. That works out to about 20 people every minute.

One in three women, and one in four men, will experience some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.

Domestic Violence Hotlines in the USA receive over 20,000 calls each day. The National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

What Is Domestic Violence?

The definition of domestic violence, according to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is, “The willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically.”

Some Helpful Places to Look

Here are some helpful links for those looking to escape an abusive situation.

What Can You Do?

If you suspect that a friend or co-worker is being abused say something. One of the most important aspects of a new identity is a witness. Someone who can speak on your behalf to authorities about the abuse.

It’s natural for us to mind our own business, but someone’s life might be in danger. It’s better to be wrong and lose a friend than the disastrous alternative.

If you are not sure how to help, or what you should or should not do, please contact one or more of the above resources for recommendations on a safe course of action.

Some Final Thoughts

As horrible as it is to imagine people who were abused often turn out to be abusers and the cycle of abuse continues. Breaking that chain is not an easy task when that’s the only form of life you’ve been exposed to.

If you are an abuser please seek help to break the cycle. If you are an abused man either physiologically or physically there is help for you too. Abuse is abuse no matter the source and we should not stigmatize it based on the sex of the abuser.

If you have helpful links or info on this topic, please comment below. Together we should all work to do our part to end domestic violence.

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