Breaking the Cycle-Part 1

Have you ever mistreated anyone to make him do what you want? That's called intimidation. When it happens between members of the same family, it is called family violence.

Family violence is a big problem in our society. It happens in families of all races, rich and poor, religious and nonreligious, educated and uneducated.

When I was a child I saw first-hand the ugliness of alcohol in the home. My mom and dad were heavy drinkers. When my dad got drunk he was extremely violent. He would beat my mom half to death at times. Often my mom would go to work Monday morning with her eyes swollen shut from their fights. I was often overwhelmed by fear. I would say to myself, "I won't drink when I grow up." However, as teen years came around, I found myself doing the very things I had vowed I would never do.

Not all family violence involves beating or other physical abuse. Other forms of family violence are:

• Sexual abuse, molestation or harassment (rape, incest);
• emotional and psychological abuse (threats, insults, harassment, mind games, destroying property or personal possessions); and
• neglect (inadequate physical or emotional care).

The victims of family violence are usually the younger, weaker, sicker or handicapped members of the family. The violent members are usually the older, stronger, more capable ones who are responsible to care for the others.