It’s hard to know what happens behind closed doors. People experiencing
the daily trauma of
domestic violence often feel unsafe or scared to tell someone else about the abuse. They
could also fear that, even if they do tell, no one will believe them.
There are ways to detect whether someone might be married to a domestic
abuser. Here are some indications something dangerous may be happening.
Unexplained Injuries
Many people get bruises or cuts without realizing where they came from;
however, these injuries are typically small. Unless someone is involved
in a potentially dangerous physical activity, such as martial arts, numerous
unexplained bruises, cuts, and breaks aren't a good sign. These injuries
may look like they came from a punch, choking, or being thrown down. They
will also likely try and hide these injuries with makeup or clothing.
Bad Excuses
Along with the injury, the person will also make weak or illogical excuses.
If they weren’t accident prone before, it’s unlikely they
would develop balance issues now. The seriousness of the injury will likely
not line up with his or her explanation.
Isolation
Abusers will always try and isolate their victim. This separation allows
better control over the victim and prevents his or her friends and family
from interfering in the relationship. If you notice the person has fewer
close friends or is kept from loved ones by their spouse, there might
be abusive behavior going on.
Controlling Behavior
If you see the spouse of the person tends to have control issues, this
is also a bad sign. Individuals who have to ask permission to do simple
things like talking to other people, meeting with loved ones, or doing
other day-to-day things might be in an abusive relationship. Abusers might
also try and control the money situation in the relationship, so the abused
has no resources to try and leave. A spouse with a foul temper is also
a bad sign. The victim might refer to his or her spouse’s jealousy,
possessiveness, or “bad temper.”
Children’s Behavior
If you notice the children of the potential victim regard the abuser with
fear or distrust, this could indicate abusive behavior is happening in
the household. Likewise, children exposed to domestic violence are more
likely to develop behavioral problems, such as regressing, imitating actions,
and being out of control.
Emotional Changes
If the person you suspect is a victim exhibits unusual symptoms of depression,
including talking about suicide, this could be an indication something
is seriously wrong. A gradual shift in behavior from someone who is usually
confident to someone who has low self-esteem and is extremely apologetic
is another indicator this behavioral change is caused by an abusive relationship.
If you suspect someone you love is being abused, don’t hesitate to
take action. Talk to the person in private and let him or her know you’re
concerned about the situation. Tell the person you are there to support
them and help them out of the situation. Make sure you don’t judge
or blame them for the abuse or place conditions on your support. You can
also offer to help them file a temporary restraining order so he or she
can initiate divorce proceedings without fear of repercussion. Texas Health
and Human Services offers several resources for victims of domestic violence.
Visit their website
here.
To get started, call one of our skilled
Houston divorce attorneys today. The
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny has 30 years of legal experience to put to work in your case. We can help
you file a restraining order on someone else’s behalf and help them
begin to create the conditions for their divorce. Talk to us in a consultation
as soon as possible.
Contact us at (713) 936-2300 or fill out our online form to schedule your case review today.