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Domestic Abuse and Family - The Use of Your Immediate Family to Carry Out Your Abusive Partner's Agenda

Written by Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D.

Topic: Abuse and RecoveryPublished January 21, 2009
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To add insult to injury, confusion to the complicated, mystery to the already oozing drama is the use of your own family to carry out your abusive partner’s agenda. Why? nnWhose Family Is My Family? If you’re perplexed as to why your parents are suddenly supporting your partner’s desire to have you out of your house, or his interest to have you out of your children’s lives, it may be time to look closer at the dynamics in play. If you don’t, you may be inadvertently allowing for the destruction of some important family support at a time when you need them most. In fact this, in part, is why this strategy is often used. It adds to your isolation!nnWhat to Do When You Notice Your Family Is Acting Like His Family If you are working your way out of an abusive relationship and must pass through the social political ropes of family court, pay close attention to what side of the courtroom your immediate family gravitates. And as hard as this may seem, recognize this too is NOT about you. Abusive people will use any and all of your natural network of strength as though they own natural rights to what’s yours. And from here, they will work these supporters to be your enemies and to become their allies, all in an effort to strengthen their efforts to carry out their own agendas. If you approach the least likely member of your family to be drawn into this strategic ploy first, you will be more successful at influencing the whole clan before the seduced support for your partner’s agenda spirals out of control. Let this family member know you know what is and/or may be going on, and ask them to serve as your voice with other members of the family. This way you can keep your focus on your personal battles and enlist a messenger to offset this ploy. Furthermore, this family member’s message to the rest of the family is likely to be received more objectively than if it came from you.

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About the Author

If you are struggling with spousal abuse and wish to end the cycle, you will want to read the Legal Domestic Abuse before the control is supported by those outside of your home. Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D., helps people recognize, end and heal from domestic abuse at home and in court. © 2009 Jeanne King, Ph.D. www.PreventAbusiveRelationships.com Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. - Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention

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