Other Ministries Headed by Jeanne
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Parish Nurse NEWS FROM THE PARISH NURSE February 2012 "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another." John 13:34 Love. Love. Love. We all know that the month of February is about celebrating the love that we share with our friends, families, and significant others, but for some it's just another month that they live in fear of a loved one. Domestic violence continues to be a very real problem that women and men everywhere face. Often times it can go undetected until it's too late. You may know of a loved one or friend who might be dealing with this issue or you yourself might be, or have been, a victim. The good news is that domestic violence victims are not alone. There is hope! There is help! But, what is domestic/intimate partner violence? It is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation. Domestic violence may include emotional abuse, economic abuse, threats, intimidation, isolation and other behaviors that are used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. A common myth is that domestic violence is usually a one-time, isolated, incident. The truth is that intimate partner/domestic violence is an ongoing pattern of behavior. It may even get worse and more frequent over a period of time. So, who are the victims? Some may think that only certain socioeconomic classes, married couples, or religious affiliations are affected by domestic violence. The problem with domestic violence is that it crosses all boundaries. Victims are of every age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, and social class and both married and single. Who are these perpetrators? Statistics show as many as 95 percent of domestic violence perpetrators are male. Many of these perpetrators were victims themselves of domestic violence. Many folks do not realize that Teen Violence is a component of intimate partner/domestic violence. Statistics show that by the age of 20 one in three teens will experience some kind of violence. Like adult domestic violence, it is about power and a desire to control, but there are several different factors that affect teens. These factors include: reliance on peer approval, lack of experience in dating/relationships, many teens are idealists and frequently look at the control tactics as "proof of passion" and finally a reluctance to confide in adults or authority figures. Domestic violence, unfortunately, does not only affect the abused victim. Children who witness domestic violence manifest a multitude of symptoms including: fear, confusion, anger, depression, powerlessness, and embarrassment. But there is hope and these victims are not alone! If you or anyone you know of needs help, call Oklahoma SAFELINE: 1-800-522-SAFE, Or 24-hour DVIS emergency crisis line for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, 918.7HELP.ME (918.743.5763). |
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