How to Prevent Domestic Violence & Child Abuse Family Violence

The idea of domestic violence and child abuse is disturbing and heartbreaking to most people, but all too often it is considered a family situation and others do not act on their suspicions when they know or suspect that abuse is occurring. Often, the victim of the domestic violence is one of the biggest defenders of the abuser because of the mixed feelings about the person, their own lack of self-esteem, and a fear of being alone.

Ironically, the abuser often has many of the same fears and will use the intimidation of physical and emotional abuse to keep their victim in their lives. To escape from a domestic abuse situation or to prevent the abuse of a child, victims must muster up the courage to stand up for themselves and ask for help.

For many, seeking a restraining order is one of the first steps to reclaiming their lives. A protective order called a no contact order can be issued to allow a victim of domestic violence the space they need in order to heal physically and emotionally and prevent further domestic abuse. In cases of child abuse or neglect there may sometimes be arrangements for supervised visitations in order to allow children to experience the positive aspects of their parent without the risk of child abuse.

Probably the most important thing to remember when a protective order is in place is to make sure that the order is enforced. There are many cases when an order is filed, and the victim will actually encourage their abuser to re-enter their lives. Other times, the abuser will try to manipulate their way through or around the restraining order, which makes it even more important to be diligent. Those who continue their harassment or stalking after a no contact order or is filed can be found in violation even if they are not making any active threats.

For members of society, it can seem frustrating to support a victim of domestic abuse who seems to always return to a bad situation, especially one that involves children. However, it is important to remember that often the cycle of domestic violence begins in childhood. If children are being abused there needs to be a real effort not only to get the child out of the abusive situation, but to monitor how they handle difficult situations and their own response to anger. This can help identify potential problems and teach them to express emotions in an acceptable way.

In schools, at home, and in the community, children need to learn that domestic violence is not acceptable. If they are having trouble controlling their anger, they should have resources available to them to learn to manage it. Children and teens should be encouraged to get help if they face violence, such as bullying, harassment, stalking, or emotional abuse within a romantic relationship. Even those with no history of domestic abuse in their homes may find themselves the victim of stalking or harassment, and may not know where to turn to deal with the problem. If abusive situations are properly handled early, more young people will be able to get a handle on dealing with the domestic abuse in their lives and will learn to recognize the signs of a potentially abusive situation before it gets out of control.