Education Articles

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence occurs when one individual purposely causes physical or mental harm to another. Violence affects people of all ages, gender, race, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Acts of violence have terrible and costly results for all involved. The violence can and usually does take many different forms including domestic (intimate partner) violence, sexual assault and abuse, dating violence, child abuse and elder abuse. It may consist of verbal threats and harassment (psychological and/or emotional abuse) to hitting, slapping, kicking, sexual force, stabbing, and shooting (physical abuse.)

Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is any sexual contact between a child and an adult (or other child) that results in sexual stimulation and gratification for the adult. Child sexual abuse includes: rape, incest, sodomy, indecent assault, sexual touching or fondling of the child's genitals, exposing children to adult sexual activity, exposing the child to adult movies and photographs, sexualized talk, having the child pose, undresseed, or perform in a sexual nature, voyeurism, forced prostitution. According to the Pennsylvania Coalition against Rape, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before age 18 (PCAR 1.)

Stress Management

Stress can cause physical and health problems if not dealt with. These physical symptoms can be headaches, muscle tension, dry mouth, racing heartbeat, diarrhea, constipation, skin rash, back pain, insomnia, and/or fatigue. Stress can also affect your thoughts and feelings as well. These thoughts and feelings may include anxiety, irritability, depression, worry, nervousness, confusion, resentment, fearfulness, and/or racing or obsessive thoughts. Stress can also affect some unhealthy actions. These unhealthy actions may include withdrawing from close relationships, snapping at others, overeating or undereating, talking very fast, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcoholic beverages, blaming others, and/or crying easily.