Emotional and Mental Wellness, it’s your right!

Emotional and Mental Wellness, it’s your right!

The Federal Department of Justice defines Emotional, economic and psychological abuse as the following:

Emotional Abuse: Undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem is abusive.  This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children.

Economic Abuse: Is defined as making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment.

Psychological Abuse: Elements of psychological abuse include, but are not limited to, causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.

 

Unfortunately, the victims of such crimes typically believe and make such statements as; “I can fix it”, “It’s my fault”, and “I just need to do better.  If I didn’t make him mad he wouldn’t have had to do that”.  However, such statements are derived out of the actual abuse.  It is a vicious cycle, which spirals out of control very rapidly.

They are victims and need help to get out from under the control of their abuser.  Will you standby and do nothing?  Help us make a difference!  Just because the Department of Justice recognizes there's a problem and defines it doesn't mean there are laws on the books at the state and local levels that will prevent it.

 

A snippet of our Story:

On November 1, fifteen months after moving in with what she believed to be, “the love of her life”, our nineteen year old daughter committed suicide.  Before leaving home, she was a young vibrant young lady...a firefighter eager to help those in her community.  She aspired to become an EMT and progress onto Paramedic.  She was also pursuing her dream of a career in the United States Military. 

All through high school, she struggled with her weight, but finally she had reached the ideal weight requirement needed for military enlistment and she was only waiting for medical documentation to be returned, which we later confirmed cleared.  Unfortunately, her boyfriend always attended every meeting and appointment with her.  She was never alone and able to make her own decisions.

The police became very familiar with their address.  There were many calls to their home address.  Our daughter was in fear for her life.  Their home had been broke into while she was home in bed.  The perpetrators held her down and demanded the whereabouts of her boyfriend.  It was speculated as to whether he put friends up to this scare tactic as nothing ever came of this.

Numerous times, he would kick her out of their shared apartment/rental unit only to call and demand she return or explain, “I wouldn’t have had to do that had you not done fill in the blank, but I want you home now.”  Then he would question why she wasn’t yet there without allowing time for her to make such a drive. We can’t begin to list the countless ways he demonstrated mental, emotional and economic abuse.  I will tell you he went as far as dragging her dog downstairs into their unfinished basement, wrapped a chain around its neck and hung it from the rafter ceiling until she begged and pleaded for the dogs release.  He forced our daughter to sleep on the floor like a dog rather than on a bed or even the couch and forced her to do all the house chores.

 

After the death of our daughter, can you guess what has happened to him?

Was he questioned?

Nope

Has he been under observation?

Nope

Was he arrested?

Nope

He moved on to his next victim!  Another young girl fell into a relationship with him only two and a half months later.  Yes, you guessed it, on Valentine’s Day they announced their relationship.  Only instead of having a dog this young gal has an infant.

 

OUR REQUEST: If you know someone that is in a bad relationship or has been hurt, contribute in their honor. It's time we make a stand.  We ask each and everyone who sees this to share it on your networks.  Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  $1, $5, $20 if, you can swing it. We need to get the word out.  $1, $5, $20 if, you can swing it.  We need your help to take this to congress and push the laws through that will prevent this type of abuse from taking place.  Get the word out and lets stop the emotional, economical and psychological abuse before it escalates!

 

Thank You: Your time is valued and we appreciate you taking the time and considering a donation to this very worthwhile cause.