Definitions of Abuse
What exactly is domestic abuse?
“An abuse of power, manifested through selfishly motivated patterns of behavior intended to exercise or maintain control over one’s partner.” Chris Moles
For additional information please visit our resources page.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of many behaviors directed at achieving and maintaining power and control over an intimate partner, such as physical violence, emotional abuse, isolation of the victim, economic abuse, intimidation, and coercion and threats.” www.americanbar.org/
Laws on domestic violence vary from state to state, but nearly all include definitions that include nonphysical forms of abuse. For example, here in North Carolina it is defined as:
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A person commits domestic violence by doing one or more of the following acts against a person with whom the offender shares or shared a personal relationship, or against the minor child of such a person:
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Attempting to or intentionally causing bodily injury;
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Placing someone or a member of someone’s family or household in fear of imminent serious bodily injury;
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Committing a sexual offenses such as rape;
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Placing someone in fear of continued harassment that is so bad it inflicts substantial emotional distress on the victim;
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Conduct that torments, terrorizes, or terrifies a person.
In North Carolina victims of domestic violence are protected by both civil and criminal laws. Domestic violence can be physical, emotional or sexual or financial. Certain types of harassment or emotional abuse can happen through all types of communication, including written, telephone, fax, e-mail, or voicemail. (statelaws.findlaw.com)
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Wisdom and Encouragement from a Biblical Perspective Concerning Domestic Abuse.
“But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners.” Psalm 146:5-7
FIVE Things I Found at the Women’s Retreat that Transformed My Life
As told by "Hope Marie," written by Lauren Rose In my 32 years of marriage, I endured every form of abuse possible. My husband was a sex addict from the beginning but then developed a drug addiction in the final four years of our marriage. He diverted narcotics from...
Shonquella Discovers The Heart Of God After Generational Abuse
As told by Shonquella, written by Lauren Rose Photography Credit: Michelle Nachnani Being born into abuse, my earliest memories consisted of the volatile relationship between my parents. As a child, I was caught in the crosshairs of one of their intense fights and...
“Jessica” Breaks The Silence
Written by Lauren Rose, as told by "Jessica" When I first met Charles, I was coming off a very recent, very messy breakup with a college boyfriend who had been physically abusive to me during our two-year relationship. Charles was clearly very well educated (having...
Domestic Abuse Through The Eyes Of A Child
Written by Lauren, as told by Laurie By the time I was born, my mom had already been married to, and lived with, my abusive dad for over three years. The abuse she experienced was related to control: he was never satisfied with her, and wanted to recreate her in an...
FIVE Things I Found at the Women’s Retreat that Transformed My Life
As told by "Hope Marie," written by Lauren Rose In my 32 years of marriage, I endured every form of abuse possible. My husband was a sex addict from the beginning but then developed a drug addiction in the final four years of our marriage. He diverted narcotics from...
Shonquella Discovers The Heart Of God After Generational Abuse
As told by Shonquella, written by Lauren Rose Photography Credit: Michelle Nachnani Being born into abuse, my earliest memories consisted of the volatile relationship between my parents. As a child, I was caught in the crosshairs of one of their intense fights and...
“Jessica” Breaks The Silence
Written by Lauren Rose, as told by "Jessica" When I first met Charles, I was coming off a very recent, very messy breakup with a college boyfriend who had been physically abusive to me during our two-year relationship. Charles was clearly very well educated (having...
Domestic Abuse Through The Eyes Of A Child
Written by Lauren, as told by Laurie By the time I was born, my mom had already been married to, and lived with, my abusive dad for over three years. The abuse she experienced was related to control: he was never satisfied with her, and wanted to recreate her in an...
Domestic Abuse Devastated “Kasey” And Her Children
As told by "Kasey," written by Lauren Rose When I was first dating my soon-to-be husband, it didn’t take long for several red flags to begin appearing…but I was too young, naïve, and love-starved to recognize them. Immediately after we married, he suddenly wanted...
“Hermosa Mariposa” Discovers Domestic Violence Isn’t Mutual
As told by "Hermosa Mariposa,” written by Lauren Rose When I first met my soon-to-be husband, he seemed to be very loving and caring, and everything I ever wanted in a husband…but looking back, now I see that what looked like "care" was actually the beginning of...