October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By Sharon Kozak
  • 56th Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in virtually all countries, cultures, classes and income groups, and the Air Force is not excluded.

It is a type of abuse that involves injuring usually a spouse or partner, but it can also be a parent, child or other family member. It is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior caused by an intimate partner against another.

Violence against women is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, and thus is part of a systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma and sometimes death. The consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and truly last a lifetime.

It is hard to know exactly how common it is because often it goes unreported. Domestic violence isn't just someone else's problem. It's an insidious social disease that affects all of us, whether it touches us personally or covertly through the economic burden it places on communities.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and 56th MDOS Family Advocacy is a proactive supporter that speaks out against abuse. If you believe you may be in an abusive relationship here are some questions to ask yourself:

Have you ever been physically hurt, such as being kicked, pushed, choked or punched by a partner or ex-partner?

Has your partner ever used the threat of hurting you or members of your family to get you to do something?

Has your partner ever injured or abused your pets?

Has your partner ever destroyed your property or things that you care about?

Does your partner regularly insult you?

Is your partner jealous and question whether you are faithful?

Does your partner demand an accounting of your time and money?

Have you ever been forced, by your partner, to have sex when you did not want to or to have unsafe sex?

If you answered YES to any of these questions you may be experiencing domestic abuse. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233), family advocacy at (623) 856-3417, or the Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate crisis line 24/7 at (623) 255-3487.