October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Rifle Police have a message on abuse for all to hear. Abusers are not all the same but they do often display common characteristics. “An abuser often denies the existence or minimizes the seriousness of the violence and its effect on the victim and other family members. An abuser objectifies the victim and often sees them as their property or sexual objects. An abuser has low self-esteem and feels powerless and ineffective in the world. He or she may appear successful, but internally, they feel inadequate. An abuser externalizes the causes of their behavior. They blame their violence on circumstances such as stress, their partner’s behavior, a “bad day,” on alcohol, drugs, or other factors. An abuser may be pleasant and charming between periods of violence and is often seen as a ‘nice person’ to others outside the relationship.” For 24/7 anonymous, confidential help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or reach out to local law enforcement.
