Rebecca Sposato MS, RN

 Most partner abuse starts as emotional abuse, may progress to physical or sexual abuse  Each year, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes. Men are the victims of about 2.9 million intimate partner related physical assaults.  Resulted in 2,340 deaths in Of these deaths, 70% were females and 30% were males 

 Risk factors for perpetration :  Being violent or aggressive in the past  Seeing or being a victim of violence as a child  Using drugs or alcohol, especially drinking heavily  Not having a job or other life events that cause stress  Personality or conduct disorder

 Length of time in each potion may vary, or couple may move back in forth between portions  Presence of ‘Honeymoon Phase’ does not indicate permanent improvement in relationship

 Physical injuries  Stunted personal growth  self-doubt, low self-esteem  Social isolation  Anxiety, depression,  self-injurious behaviors  somatic symptoms

The paradoxical response by abuse victims who support and comply with the abuser in order to survive and reduce the trouble The victim feels: - self is under serious threat -occasional ‘small acts of kindness’ -control and isolation -the inability to escape

 Successfully leaving an abuser cannot be done spontaneously, it requires preparation  Each table has 5 minutes to compose a safety plan

 Prior to leaving, covertly:  document abuse- journal, doctor visit, photos, police report  Stash packed bag-phone, numbers, money, finances, personal items, meds, address book, keys, important papers, ID  Form a new account, get a pre-paid cell phone  Arrange transportation and destination  Tell the children a code word for when to leave 

 After the victim leaves:  Change previous contact information- accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, post-office box  Vary daily routine, errands, commute  Obtain restraining order and keep copy in possession  Change locks, work location/hours

 Centers for disease control (2011). Retrieved fromwww.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/intim atepartnerviolence/consequences.html  Counseling Resourse (2011) Retrieved from lf-help/stockholm/3  The Hotline (2011). Retrieved from lf-help/stockholm/3