Tie a Purple Ribbon: Support Domestic Violence Awareness

Published Oct. 6, 2011
By Susan Thompson, LCSW, Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist
45th Medical Operations Squadron

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Family Advocacy is promoting Tie a Purple Ribbon on your vehicle to Support Domestic Violence Awareness.

So one may ask, what exactly is domestic violence? Domestic Violence is a cycle of behavior used to gain control, power, and intimidation over a spouse or intimate partner.

Domestic violence has no barriers as men and women can be the abusers or the victims of domestic violence. Often times the abuse is intentional, so the abuser can gain control over his partner.

Physical violence is only one way an abuser can gain control of their victims. Other ways an abuser may control their victims is by dominating the relationship, humiliation, isolating the victim from others, threatening them, intimidation, and denial and blame.

Signs of an abusive relationship may include: feeling afraid of your partner, believing you deserve to be hurt, having low self esteem, avoiding certain conversations in fear that your partner might get upset and wondering if it is you who really has a problem.

Domestic violence usually shows in the form of physical, emotional, sexual, or economic abuse.

Physical abuse is the use of physical force to meet their demands and may cause injury that may need medical attention.

Emotional abuse occurs when the abuser degrades the victim's self worth and self-esteem.

Sexual abuse is defined as any unsafe, forced, unwanted, or degrading sexual act.

Economic abuse is defined as controlling finances, checkbook, giving the victim an allowance, making the victim account for money spent, and preventing the victim from working.

If you feel like you are a victim of any of these issues and it is affecting your self-esteem and outlook on life, please contact one of the agencies below for assistance:
Family Advocacy Program - (321) 494-8171
Mental Health Clinic - (321) 494-8234
Domestic Violence Shelter - (321) 726-8282
State of Florida Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-500-1119
Chaplain - (321) 494-4073
Security Forces - (321) 494-2008
Brevard Help Line - 211
Military One Source - 1-800-707-5784