Abuse Victims

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

It has come to my attention that yet, another VJ member from the MENA region is suffering from physical abuse from her husband. He basically just arrived in the US (2 weeks ago).

I don't know about you, but I am fed up with this BS. It's time to take action. I propose we create some sort of anonymous/ confidential board amongst us to help each other out. The issue with anonimity was brought up at togetherforever13's thread; the fact that the perpetrators have access to read threads and even comment as guests.

While we come up with a strategy, can the moderators post some permanent topic on the Family Discussion portion of this website with information on domestic violence? I don't know if that alraedy exists or what else to suggest to put this in the forefront.

Maybe we can strategize by states, even cities. For example, if you live in NY and need help, you can count on the help of members living in the tri-state area.

I may be rambling here and even sounding ridiculous, but this is just unacceptable.

Carry on....

just be a support./. she will need it

[mymarriagejourney 113]

This is tragic. I just told my husband about this thread and he was appalled.

[Lisamarie 79]

What a sad situation.............I hope she can get out of the situation quickly and safely, and I hope the other poster is doing ok and is in a safe place. I can't imagine going through the whole immigration process just to bring someone over here that's going to abuse you. It's beyond awful.....

[Mithra 1,185]

While doing some research on various personality disorders I found this bit of information that I thought was interesting. It helped me understand a bit more why some people stay in abusive situations.

Hoovering

Definition:

Hoovers & Hoovering - A Hoover is a metaphor, taken from the popular brand of vacuum cleaners, to describe how an abuse victim, trying to assert their own rights by leaving or limiting contact in a dysfunctional relationship gets "sucked back in" when the perpetrator temporarily exhibits improved or desirable behavior.

Description:

The Hoovering metaphor comes from the popular Hoover brand of vacuum cleaners. Hoovering describes how a non-personality-disordered person, while attempting to escape an abusive situation, gets sucked back into the status quo.

Hoovering commonly occurs:

After an emotional outburst, violence or other extreme period of abuse when the victim is most likely to leave, retaliate or seek help from others.

When the victim starts to pull away from the relationship, leave the relationship or establish firmer boundaries within the relationship.

When the abuser internally feels unworthy and fears the loss of the relationship.

A hoovering abuser may shower their victim with gifts, compliments, promises, demonstrations of love and affection in order to persuade the victim to maintain the status quo.

Hoovering is one of the key components of an Abusive Cycle. Without Hoovering, most abusers would be living alone. Hoovering is the "plus side" to many abusers that makes an abusive relationship seem worthwhile to many victims and sustains abusive relationships over the long term.

Hoovering requires two willing parties to be effective: the person doing the hoovering and the person being hoovered, who allows themselves to be abused and then sucked back in.

What it feels like:

Hoovering feels good! And that's the point! When you are being hoovered, your buttons are all getting pushed, your feelings are getting validated, your needs are being met, your wildest dreams are coming true, your opinions matter, you are the most important person in the world to that certain person.

Hoovering often feels like vindication. You might find yourself thinking “Finally! The message is getting through! I’m not crazy after all! Now THAT is what I’m talking about!” But watch out...

When you are starving for any emotional food, just about any kind of personal validation tastes wonderful, but you must remember that not everything that tastes delicious is nutritious.

Manipulative abusers are often adept at giving their victims enough of what they want to keep them where they want them. Even slave owners know that they have to feed them enough to keep them healthy and productive.

But how do I know if a hoover is 'real"?

Many Non-personality disordered people struggle with trying to tell whether a hoover really is a hoover, or if it is a sincere attempt at change by the personality-disordered person whom they care about.

The mistake in that logic is that it assumes that it can't be both. Many abusers and personality-disordered people really are sincere and really are trying when they also are hoovering. People who are hoovering you may not be consciously trying to manipulate you or deceive you. They may sincerely be trying, even hoping, to make it "better this time". They may not be consciously lying when they make promises of change and put them into practice. They may be so convincing because they are so convinced.

You are going to have to be like the adult in a parent-child relationship, who listens to their child's black-and-white promises of great expectations or of "I'll never talk to him/her again" and says "Hmm, we'll wait and see".

If you're not sure if you're being hoovered you should wait and see. Take the long-term view. A person's character is like an average of their behaviors over their lifetime. People can and do make positive changes in their lives sometimes, deciding to change their behavior for the better. Wait a year and see.

Coping with Hoovering:

If somebody who has been treating you abusively starts to treat you well, there's no harm in letting them knock themselves out and give yourself a break, but you must be careful not to take the bait to erode your boundaries, settle for less than you deserve, stop doing things that are healthy for you or stop exercising your own independence.

What NOT to do:

Don't change any of your boundaries or allow them to be broken during a hoover.

Don't relax or give up on any consequences of previous poor decisions for the abuser.

Don't stop any healthy activities or relationships you may be engaged in elsewhere.

Don't assume the hoover will last forever.

Don't use a hoover to bargain for a better life. You are setting up the abuser to break a promise and setting yourself up for a disappointment.

What TO do:

Remember that mood swings are a normal part of a number of personality disorders and that what goes up must come down.

Accept that highs and lows are a part of everyone's emotional life and that, for a personality-disordered person, those may be more intense and lead swings in behavior.

Maintain all your healthy lifestyle habits and relationships with others.

Take the long-term view. Wait a year.

Get yourself off the roller coaster. Position yourself so that your safety and happiness isn't dependent on a personality-disordered person's mood.

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

While doing some research on various personality disorders I found this bit of information that I thought was interesting. It helped me understand a bit more why some people stay in abusive situations.

Hoovering

Definition:

Hoovers & Hoovering - A Hoover is a metaphor, taken from the popular brand of vacuum cleaners, to describe how an abuse victim, trying to assert their own rights by leaving or limiting contact in a dysfunctional relationship gets "sucked back in" when the perpetrator temporarily exhibits improved or desirable behavior.

Description:

The Hoovering metaphor comes from the popular Hoover brand of vacuum cleaners. Hoovering describes how a non-personality-disordered person, while attempting to escape an abusive situation, gets sucked back into the status quo.

Hoovering commonly occurs:

After an emotional outburst, violence or other extreme period of abuse when the victim is most likely to leave, retaliate or seek help from others.

When the victim starts to pull away from the relationship, leave the relationship or establish firmer boundaries within the relationship.

When the abuser internally feels unworthy and fears the loss of the relationship.

A hoovering abuser may shower their victim with gifts, compliments, promises, demonstrations of love and affection in order to persuade the victim to maintain the status quo.

Hoovering is one of the key components of an Abusive Cycle. Without Hoovering, most abusers would be living alone. Hoovering is the "plus side" to many abusers that makes an abusive relationship seem worthwhile to many victims and sustains abusive relationships over the long term.

Hoovering requires two willing parties to be effective: the person doing the hoovering and the person being hoovered, who allows themselves to be abused and then sucked back in.

What it feels like:

Hoovering feels good! And that's the point! When you are being hoovered, your buttons are all getting pushed, your feelings are getting validated, your needs are being met, your wildest dreams are coming true, your opinions matter, you are the most important person in the world to that certain person.

Hoovering often feels like vindication. You might find yourself thinking “Finally! The message is getting through! I’m not crazy after all! Now THAT is what I’m talking about!” But watch out...

When you are starving for any emotional food, just about any kind of personal validation tastes wonderful, but you must remember that not everything that tastes delicious is nutritious.

Manipulative abusers are often adept at giving their victims enough of what they want to keep them where they want them. Even slave owners know that they have to feed them enough to keep them healthy and productive.

But how do I know if a hoover is 'real"?

Many Non-personality disordered people struggle with trying to tell whether a hoover really is a hoover, or if it is a sincere attempt at change by the personality-disordered person whom they care about.

The mistake in that logic is that it assumes that it can't be both. Many abusers and personality-disordered people really are sincere and really are trying when they also are hoovering. People who are hoovering you may not be consciously trying to manipulate you or deceive you. They may sincerely be trying, even hoping, to make it "better this time". They may not be consciously lying when they make promises of change and put them into practice. They may be so convincing because they are so convinced.

You are going to have to be like the adult in a parent-child relationship, who listens to their child's black-and-white promises of great expectations or of "I'll never talk to him/her again" and says "Hmm, we'll wait and see".

If you're not sure if you're being hoovered you should wait and see. Take the long-term view. A person's character is like an average of their behaviors over their lifetime. People can and do make positive changes in their lives sometimes, deciding to change their behavior for the better. Wait a year and see.

Coping with Hoovering:

If somebody who has been treating you abusively starts to treat you well, there's no harm in letting them knock themselves out and give yourself a break, but you must be careful not to take the bait to erode your boundaries, settle for less than you deserve, stop doing things that are healthy for you or stop exercising your own independence.

What NOT to do:

Don't change any of your boundaries or allow them to be broken during a hoover.

Don't relax or give up on any consequences of previous poor decisions for the abuser.

Don't stop any healthy activities or relationships you may be engaged in elsewhere.

Don't assume the hoover will last forever.

Don't use a hoover to bargain for a better life. You are setting up the abuser to break a promise and setting yourself up for a disappointment.

What TO do:

Remember that mood swings are a normal part of a number of personality disorders and that what goes up must come down.

Accept that highs and lows are a part of everyone's emotional life and that, for a personality-disordered person, those may be more intense and lead swings in behavior.

Maintain all your healthy lifestyle habits and relationships with others.

Take the long-term view. Wait a year.

Get yourself off the roller coaster. Position yourself so that your safety and happiness isn't dependent on a personality-disordered person's mood.

great great great post Mithra..

Love you

[RFQ 110]

It is a good post Mithra. I have never heard it described as "hoovering," but I suppose its a good name to help the victim understand what is going on. I have heard it termed "honeymoon phase." Suddenly the couple are sooooo in love again. The abuser showers them with apologies, love, gifts. The abuser does everything right and is really going to change....until YOU (you= the victim) mess up again and make him/her assault you with something YOU did wrong that made him "slip up."

I highly recommend "Why does he do that? Inside the mind of angry and controlling men." http://www.amazon.com/Why-Does-He-That-Controlling/dp/0425191656

Some people might relate to this video:

Edited September 4, 2012 by RFQ

[rade2rising 205]

very funny reading

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

very funny reading

What exactly is so "very funny" about abuse?

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

Troll alert....ignore. Weirdo.....

[rade2rising 205]

not abuse silly but the fact that it can be compared to a vacum is quite funny to me

[SarAyouBliss 38]

So, is there a way to to this better? Obviously people telling someone personally that they fit a typical pattern is going to hurt, and maybe even make them feel like it's "us against the world" Romeo and Juliet type of thing, which will make them less likely to take heed. What about a non-confrontational pinned topic that outlines typical patterns, with third-party, dispassionate warnings (like the Moroccan Embassy one for a start). Maybe members of each subforum could make a list of what is normal and what is not, for those with no travel experience (another typical scam pattern). Then maybe links to sites about domestic violence or the like?

Definitely a great idea, but why choosing the Moroccan Embassy?

[Ayman___ 92]

It's very bad when you go through this process and find you get abused .I'm in... if anyone needs someone to talk to I been in this situation years ago and I know the feeling of being abuse.You don't deserve being physically, mentally or emotionally abused. no one does.It would be better to live alone in that case.