Domestic Violence

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Domestic Violence is all around us
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• Sometimes, when I am talking to a client, without
  even realizing, it reminds me of similar stories
  of previous clients and others around me. Today,
  I can especially recall Jasmin (name changed for
  the purpose of privacy) who was approximately
  nineteen years old when she got married. Like any
  other young girl she had dreams of a fairy tale
  married life, where her husband would dote on her
  and treat her like a princess. 

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• But it took just a couple of months into the
  marriage for her to realize that all her dreams
  had turned into a nightmare, and probably she
  would have to live this nightmare all through her
  life. What she had to undergo was not just
  physical assault and injury, but she was also
  ridiculed and humiliated publicly to such an
  extent that she lost all her confidence.

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• Her husband would invite his friends over and
  then in front of them criticize her on
  everything. And, after heart-breaking insults,
  beating, and cursing, he would end the day by
  forcing her into bed. her husband not only abused
  her, but also suffered with sexual addiction. She
  was financially dependent on him and that worked
  in his favor as she struggled with low self
  esteem and hopelessness. Her friends and family,
  told her that domestic violence was a very common
  thing.
•  

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• With no support from her family, Jasmin felt
  literally out of options. She felt, there is a
  light at the end of the tunnel, when one day she
  found out that she was pregnant. The beating and
  all the abuse stopped. Her husband became
  extremely loving and took care of all her needs.
  She thought the worst was over, but only to
  realize that the worst was yet to come. Once her
  little boy was born, the torture started again,
  and this time around, he would threaten to hurt
  her baby as well. I still remember meeting her
  for the first time. I wish my husband dies,
  quietly expressed her deep desire, which she
  thought would end her miserable marital situation.

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• Her abusive relationship had brought her to the
  point of wishing for her husbands death, but she
  was unwilling to get out of the marriage for
  different reasons such as financial instability,
  complications in remarrying, self-Image, for the
  childrens sake, and should women endure? It was
  time for Jasmin to gather courage and stand up
  against the violence. She would not allow her
  husband to hurt her or her baby any longer. The
  violence of any sort is unjustified and should be
  condemned.

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• But when this violence comes from within your own
  family, and from people who are supposed to
  actually protect you, this violence not only
  cause physical injuries but also breaks down a
  person internally and emotionally. Domestic
  violence is just not getting physically hurt, but
  it also includes any form of intimidation, sexual
  assault, emotional distress, sexual abusive, and
  spiritual abuse. Do not be deceived into thinking
  that you are the one responsible for disclosing
  the secrets of your relationship by seeking
  help. And remember your children are watching you
  making these choices and they might just end up
  repeating the same mistakes.
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