RSACC

A finger pulse oximeter is used to measure your heart rate and your oxygen levels. You can use it for exercising, or you can use it just to monitor your medical condition if you have health concerns. These devices aren’t difficult to find, much like blood pressure cuffs, blood sugar monitors, and thermometers, but you want to get the right ones. Take a close look at the medical monitoring device you’re considering buying, and make sure that it comes with some kind of warranty. You don’t want to be out the money for it if it doesn’t work right for some reason. The warranty should be for at least a year. If there’s a card to fill out for it, make sure you do that.

Also, make sure you’re buying your monitoring devices from a reputable company. That can really help if there’s a problem with any of them. You shouldn’t have to fight for your money back or a replacement as long as you’ve gone with a company that you can trust. If you’re not sure what company you should be using, ask around. Do your research thoroughly, in order to make sure that you’re getting the right thing and that you’re getting it for a price that’s reasonable and appropriate. You don’t want to pay too much.

You can always ask your doctor for a recommendation as to which monitoring devices you should get, too. He or she probably knows which companies will be best, or can at least tell you what to look for and what price range you should be looking in. If you have a medical condition that needs monitoring, or if you’re starting an exercise program, you should be consulting with your doctor. During that visit, ask about different devices so you can get a better idea of which one you should buy.

One of the most debilitating aspects of domestic abuse is the effect on the victim’s feelings of self worth and the conditions of their mental health.  A victim of domestic abuse is under the thumb of a more powerful personality whose sole aim is control. The abuser must control every nuance in the victim’s life. The abusing partner attains control through verbal and emotional abuse; the goal is to reduce the victim, mentally and emotionally, into a worthless pile of rubble.   The method is to break the victim through yelling, threatening, and putting them to shame. Then the abuser begins to control every little movement. The victim is not allowed out of the sight of the abusive partner. Family and friends are shunned, phone calls are limited; every action is monitored. If the victim steps out of line in any way, they are put in isolation, perhaps even physically assaulted, and, of course, blamed for all the abuse that has been heaped upon them.  A victim of mental and emotional abuse will be conditioned to believe that everything is their fault. They will be told over and over again, that if only they were better, brighter, if only they would obey faster, quicker, if only they would- and so it goes.  One of the hardest things for a victim to overcome, who has escaped an abusive prison, are the feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing. The hardest part of healing is to let go of guilt and to begin to understand that the abuse, however horrendous, is not the victim’s fault. Abuse that has been piled upon a victim has been the abuser’s choice; the abusing partner chose to threaten, blame and control the victim.   Abuse is never ever the victim’s fault.

In light of a recent security breach at a family violence shelter in Christian County, Missouri, these types of safe havens are taking a closer look at provisions they have in place to protect clients.
Most family violence shelters provide safety, security and anonymity for people trying escape abusive relationships and break the cycles of violence. The shelters employ the highest levels of security in order to keep their resident clients safe, protecting their identities and unwanted visitors.  Some of the security tactics used include gated facilities with continually-running cameras and locations that remain undisclosed to the public.
One such facility suffered a security breach when an abusive ex-spouse discovered its location using his ex-wife’s vehicle GPS system. He contacted the company which financed the vehicle and was able to track  it through the GPS locating system. He then went to the shelter location and waited for someone to enter a code into the gate’s security system, following right after the person and into the facility.
Once inside, he located his children and kidnapped them while their mother was taking a shower. Police worked quickly to locate him and return the children safely to their mother.
Although the scenario ended without physical harm to the kids or their mother, it was alarming to everyone involved and eye-opening for violence shelters staffs across the globe. The violence shelter has since implemented new security standards regarding vehicle GPS systems. From this point forward, all clients are asked about their vehicles’ GPS system, if any, and required to have them disabled during their stays. Another option is for the clients to make the GPS operating companies aware of their situations so that no information regarding their whereabouts is disclosed to anyone.
The violence shelter security breach was frightening, but it offered an opportunity for all shelters to increase their own security measures. Being aware of potential risks to clients is the first step in ensuring all shelter clients remain safe. Thankfully, this situation turned out well and turned up additional ways for protecting those in need of safe harbors.

Leaving an abusive relationship is an incredible act of bravery and tenacity. One cannot simple walk away from an abusive partner without fear of pain and punishment as well as possible loss of life. In order to escape, a victim must plan carefully and thoroughly, as they will never be able to return.
When a victim succeeds in getting away from the abuse, it is through serious planning and working a tight schedule. Because an abuser is always in control of the victim, it takes some very dedicated detailed planning for a victim to actually make a successful escape.
One of the hardest issues to resolve in making an escape from an abusive partner is in the area of finances. The normal financial outcome for abuse victims is that money is non-existent. The abuser controls everything and this includes finances, both household and personal.
Victims of abuse, who have been under the thumb of their partner for a long time, will usually find that there are no bank accounts in their name; no identity and no cash. Escaping is very difficult without the cash to do so. Many abuse victims become homeless.
Victims that escape with their children, face a double whammy as they try to find shelter and comfort for their children as well as themselves. Another serious problem that adds to the strain of escape is the fact that the victim will have to get a job; most abuse victims have little or no training in work and have been under guard for years. This one item can keep many abuse victims from leaving their awful situation, as lack of finances can be quite formidable as well as frightening.
Although there are agencies that offer assistance, many times there are too many abuse victims for these agencies to handle.

It is a startling and sad fact that the majority of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their attackers. Children under the age of 18 make up almost half of the reported sexual assaults reported. Whether the crimes are committed by a family member, friend of a family member or a total stranger, many of these kids suffer the abuse for many years before it is discovered or otherwise ended, if ever.
Continuing the sad truth is the additional fact that the cycle of sexual abuse does not end when the abuser is caught or the actual attacks are stopped. Many people who experienced sexual assaults during childhood have a lot related issues to cope with in their adult lives.
Sexual abuse during childhood often leaves a lifetime of scars and anguish to overcome. It is important that every victim of sexual abuse seek help and support, especially when the abuse occurred while growing up and developing mentally.Victims of sexual assaults often develop problems throughout life as a result of their experiences, including depression, mental illnesses, anger issues and destruction addictions. Child victims may possibly develop these symptoms and problems without even knowing why.
There are a number of different situations or scenarios that may trigger memories of the traumas later in life. The earlier a sexual assault victim begins to receive help and support, the sooner healing processes can begin.
Unfortunately, many sexual abuse victims who never report the crimes or get help repeat the patterns of violence themselves. The cycle must be broken to end child sexual abuse altogether.
Victims, especially children, should be encouraged to report the abuse and not keep the attacker’s identity secret. Revealing the truth may be a difficult task, but it is an important first step in breaking an evil cycle and beginning the path to recovery and feelings of complete security and wellness.

In the matter of domestic violence and abuse, there is a definite pattern that pervades and is very obvious, when understood. It is important to learn to recognize this cycle so that one can become aware of abuse in their own life, as well as in the lives of loved ones.

First there is The Build Up.

This phase is dominated by the abuser having total power with lots of tension build-up. The victim is usually under complete control, in every way, and is not even allowed to visit family and friends. There is no outside communication tolerated, although the victim usually tries to keep the peace and works desperately to hinder any reason for an outburst.

Next is The Abusive Explosion.

At this point any small infraction becomes the reason for physical assault. Domination becomes imperative as the abuser accuses and punishes the victim accordingly. Everything the victim does is wrong and worthy of violent recourse. Emotional and physical abuse abounds, and there is no escape for the victim.

And last comes The Courtship.

At this stage in the Circle of Abuse, repentance, apologies, tears, and humble pleas for forgiveness dominate the picture. The abuser feels remorse and promises the moon to the victim. Everything will be different; there will be no more violence or emotional abuse; the abuser has had a change of heart; on so forth. The victim is treated like gold.

Until….

The whole relationship goes full circle and enters back into the tension of The Build Up.

Realize that any relationship can have its ups and downs, however, a relationship that has a continuous pattern of Build Up, Abusive Explosion, and Courtship is a relationship that is in a continuous full abuse cycle. This relationship is unhealthy and also dangerous. Recognizing it is the first step to emotional health and safety.

It is interesting to find that domestic violence is recognized as a worldwide problem.

Different cultures and religions have actually banded together to help combat domestic violence through understanding and education. In an unprecedented move, Muslim activists have joined together with their Hindu counterparts, in areas of India, to fight violence and domestic abuse. In Pakistan, where reports of abuse are high, like-minded groups have formed to help victims.

Although most statistics show that women are reported to be abused at a much higher percentage than men, it has also been found that men seldom report being victims of domestic violence. Some studies have suggested that emotional and physical abuse is actually about equal among men and women. In fact a current report states that, for heterosexual relationships in the United States, women are more violent toward their partners, by about 50%.

Part of the discrepancy of such reports is, as stated above, the reluctance of men to report, or admit, being victims of domestic abuse or violence. Because of this, women are usually viewed as the higher percentage of victims in abusive relationships, even though in some studies women are shown to be 2x more violent than men. Of course women also suffer greater injury than their male counterpoints, simply by being physically smaller.

Canada surveys have shown domestic abuse to be about equal in their country, between the sexes, although the woman is more likely to be harmed than the man. It is admitted that these surveys do not have questions that raise the issue of abused male partners.

Some interesting statistics have shown that, in lesbian partnerships, the rate of domestic violence is about equal to those in heterosexual marriages. Other studies report that the rate of domestic violence, in lesbian relationships, is actually much higher than with heterosexual counterparts.

Although many gays and lesbians are “coming out of the closet”, so to speak, and being much more open about their loves and lifestyles, this community is hesitant to talk about domestic violence and abuse in same-sex relationships.

It can be extremely difficult for gays or lesbians to seek help and escape from domestic violence because of the discrimination that they are already subject to on a daily basis. Speaking up about domestic violence in one’s personal relationship is difficult enough. For a gay or lesbian, such a confession can draw negative attention to same-sex relationships, not to mention the whole gay community. Because same-sex couples have experienced prejudice and awkwardness in the normal routine of life, it can be fearsome to face a disdainful social worker or unsympathetic police officers about domestic violence. Even looking for support from the gay community can be trying, as the last thing the community wants is bad press. Still, a person caught in domestic violence should be allowed the same help and sympathy that is available to anyone who needs it.

Unfortunately, domestic and emotional abuse happens in same-sex relationships as much as heterosexual marriages. Domestic abuse can no longer be considered a “family affair”. Abuse appears in all kinds of situations and every type of relationship. In fact, the abuse rate in same-sex partnerships is about the same percentage as in the average male-female relationship.

Because domestic abuse and violence does occur in same-sex relationships, organizations and help-groups are now using terms that do not refer to specific genders when asking questions about domestic abuse in order to help victims and to also get a clearer picture of the very real and serious statistics in the area of domestic violence.

There are several interesting and conflicting viewpoints that confront and try to explain the issues of domestic abuse and attempt to explain abusive behavior.

One point of view argues that an abusive partner inflicts pain and suffering because of being abused as a child. This theory speculates that perhaps, as a child, the abusive partner lived a life of misery and low self-esteem because of an equally abusive parent or older sibling. A probable fear of further abuse or lack of love drives the abuser to inflict pain and more pain upon a partner that he/she professes to love. This abuse nature comes from the utter self-loathing and worthlessness that is the driving force of the abusing partner.

Another viewpoint says that the aggressor knows exactly what he/she is doing and takes great pleasure is inflicting pain. This explanation holds the theory that the abuser is power hungry and looks for those that might be suitable and easy victims to prey upon. This kind of abuser can control his/her actions, when needed and abuses because it is enjoyable to be on the giving end. The typical power abuser, of this kind, only expresses regret when they think have been caught and face punishment.

One more theory says that an abusive partner comes from a powerless state of being. That the abuser feels so powerless and vacant that they try to control all aspects of their life, as well as their partner’s, in order to feel that they have some sort of control over their situation and circumstances. However, the more power they impose on others, the more powerless they feel, which in turn makes them need and demand more power. This becomes a continuous and never-ending story that can never fulfill.