5 Benefits of Learning to Identify Intimate Partner Abuse

If you have read my writing, you may know me as someone who encourages people to recognize intimate partner violence. But, I wonder if you know why I’m so steadfast about this.nnLearning to Meditate Is Like Learning to MatennI’m reminded of the days when I taught biofeedback and meditation to individuals in my psychotherapy practice. It seemed like no matter who walked through that door, whether they had high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, migraines, insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks or depression, I always opened the door for a discussion that ultimately led to three little words: Learn to Meditate!nnPeople came into my practice wanting symptom reduction and walked out of my practice with life enhancement on top of symptom reduction. I’m telling you this little story because it’s the same with my pervasive message of: Learn to Identify Intimate Partner Violence. nnThe Benefits of Learning to Identify Intimate Partner AbusennLet me elaborate. You see, it’s not only that you will be better able to recognize a bully or identify your circumstances as fulfilling the criteria of intimate partner violence or not. Oh no, it’s much more than that.nnWhen you learn to identify intimate partner violence, here’s what also happens over time.nn1) You know how to prevent an abusive relationship from developingnn2) You know how to arrest an abusive relationship in the momentnn3) You know how to avoid abusive relationships before they beginnn4) You bring into focus the flip-side of partner abuse, and from here you can clearly pursue itnn5) Ultimately for most people that’s exactly what they want…a loving intimate relationship characterized by mutual honor, respect and support.nnIf you have the occasion to understand this dynamic and plan to have an intimate relationship, you owe it to your self to understand the silent insidious syndrome of intimate partner abuse before it sneaks up out of nowhere and catches you by surprise.