I think that there should be a lot more clips of various types of abuse in the commercial.

There are far too many 'control freaks' around who have stripped all the confidence and self-esteem from their children and spouses.  It IS just as bad, if not worse, as it's not seen by the police and social workers as being a problem because of not having much physical injury.  I got no help or support at all from them.  I was even advised to stay in the marriage for the 'sake' of the children.  Refuge centres I believed were for seriously injured families.

It's saddening now to see grown-up timid children who have difficulty making choices and decisions.  I didn't think it was going to affect them THIS much and wish that I had HAD the courage many years ago to get out of the situation.  At that time I was so low in my own self-esteem that I didn't think it was possible to get out, as I was also made to believe that.

I now know that it's possible to change things and rid myself of the control freak, but a LOT of damage has already been done!

PS My e-mails have even been hacked into!

I say the article tonight on domestic where a young woman talks about the abuse she had suffered by her husband. I was quite interested due to the fact that I think that you are doing a brilliant job is putting forth the message to the public that this is not an issue that should remain silent. I have been a victim of domestic abuse. I was subject to the physical and mental abuse for 9 years. I kept it silent until the final year of the relationship when I decided and knew that I had to get out for the safety of my life. When the psychological brain washing to end my life would be for the better of both of us did not succeed quickly enough, he attempted to throttle me. He belittled me for so long that I started to believe the cruel things about myself and still to this point in my life sometimes have difficulty in believing that I am not an ugly and fat disgusting person. I lost a child due to the fact of the beatings 7 years ago. I have sent emails to Tony Blair asking for him to speak out about this silent abuser. If our community houses a drug dealer or a pedophile, the community wants to know. If the community houses a violen abusive person who physically abuses women, they should want to know that also. I stress that the importance is on educating the community and making it known that domestic abuse is no longer a situation that should be swept under the rug but reported right away. This could save lives. When a woman is abused, it does not stop when he leaves. It stops when she starts to feel good about herself again and the children are safe. Sometimes, the mental scars are worse that the physical scars. Ask me, I know.

Domestic Abuse is a crime.  It is not something that you can turn your head away from.  It is no longer a secret behind closed doors. It is an issue that has to be addressed by the members of the public.  Public awareness has to be an issue that requires attention.  Women of domestic abuse are discriminated against by members of the public in the area in which they live.  I was a victime of domestic abuse for almost 9 years and I lived with the darkest secret that still haunts me to this day.  I am now a survivor but I would like to get a message across to other women in Scotland that they are not alone.  I know that they feel afraid, intimidated, belittled, feelings of failure but they are not a failure if they walk away from the situation.  They are the most important people in the world.  They do not have to be afraid becasuse there are many and various organisations and groups who can help them find new housing, a solicitor, counselling and a safe enviroment for their children.  I have been very fortunate in that I did not have any children.  I miscarried due to a violent beating but they has not deterred me from ever having children.  I want women who are in domestic abuse situations to know that they are not responsible for the actions of their partners or husbands.  They cannot change the way they act or behave.  These women are important and they have to keep telling themselves this because if they do not, they will allow themselves to be dominated by an abusive partner who is a coward and prides himself in abusing the woman and feel that they themselves are a victim.  When I finally stood up for myself and threw my partner out.  I lived in a community where he was popular and no one knew me.  I worked in an area when everyone knew him.  I felt humilated, belittled and ashamed.  Why, for his actions and my relationship failed.  I stayed for 9 years, not out of love buy loyalty and that loyalty almost got me killed.  I walked for months with my head down. I was discriminated against in the fact that people labelled me as crazy, a liar, and an outcast.  Not one of these people knew anything about me or my situation or the physical or mental scars I carry today.  Then one day, I was coming home from work and I stopped along the road and said, Thank you Lord.  Thank you for allowing me the gift of life and the ability to go on in the lowest part of my life. 

I went back to work that afternoon and held my head high as it was then, I knew that I was a beautiful person who was important and what matterd was me.  Not what others are saying and how they treat me as they are no better than him. 
Today, I have a successful job, a beautiful home and studying for a university degree.  I have piece of mind.  I am not afraid anymore.  I sleep at night and I am able to get up in the morning.  For the first time in my life, I realized that the only person who is the most important in my life and who should love me, is ME. 

You don't have to be a different colour, nationality or disabled to be discriminated against.  You only need to be a memeber of the public who says, NO, you are not doing this to me anymore. 

Discrimination and domestic abuse does go hand in hand.  When a victim of domestic abuse gets away from her situation and the memebers of the public discriminate, they are no better than the abusive partner or husband.  The public must realize they are not judge or jury.  We all need to open our eyes and our hearts and be supportive to those who need it not those who gave up their responsibility and used their position to abuse their partner in a violent way.

Having recently seen one of your short films, I felt a strong urge to share my own experience. I found myself in a violent relationship in my late teens, which I endured for three years. During those years, I became distanced from my friends and family. I kept all the things that were happening a secret for all that time, as I truly felt I was worthless, or that things would get better, or it was because he loved me - and many other reasons to try and come to terms with what was happening; to find a reason. I think there does come a time when a person can't take any more. Having been punched (I can't even remember why) and then thrown across a room into a bookcase I knew if I stayed I could not go on any longer. With the help of a close friend and the thought that life could be happy one day, I found the strength to leave. I don't think I will ever forget the small kindnesses that so many people showed me during that time, which gave me back a shred of self esteem when I had none left. I have tried to understand why it happened, if I could have changed things, but there are no easy answers and there is not one reason why a person inflicts violence on another.  Some days the scars that domestic abuse leaves are more visible - I still, even after 7 years, find myself racked with self doubt, trying ridiculously hard to please, saying sorry, and even getting flashbacks from that time. I am now in a very happy relationship. Sometimes I get angry with myself that my past can still make inroads to my current happiness. Then I remember that I must be a strong person to have gone through this and survived relatively intact. I think the next step is that I can help in some small way to give someone else the strength to leave a violent relationship.

I thought the clip was good, my Grandson has been a victim of Domestic Abuse he used to hide under the table he was about 2. The assault though was on his Dad who received many injuries so please remember Women abuse also ,on your clip there was no mention of this.

In Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland we hear regularly that D.V. is very common on males as well as females.

Abuse happens in many forms but emotional/mental abuse of children leaves scars that never heal. 

Fathers that do not get access to their children for no good reason is abuse to both the children and the father. Alienation of the childrens in care and the non resident poarent is abuse. Useing the children as weapons in family arguements is abuse to children. Excluding grandparents from a childrens lives for no real reason is abuse to children, leaving them open to further possible abuse as grandparents have more time to spot when something is wrong.

Every member of a childs family is important for their prorection in this day of dependancy on drugs by both sexes.

Grrr.. domestic violence is a touchy subject with me! I was in a marriage for a SHORT time with a man who thought he had the right to abuse me verbally/mentally/emotionally/physically.
I tried to make the marriage work even though I know it was a bit rushed and we should of waited.  He became more and more  insecure with himself and therefore accused me of cheating and running around on him while I was at work.  It became so unbearable that I began to dislike being with him or around him! I am not an abusive aggressive person but their is only so much a person can take! One night after an long argument that last hours because this man felt insecure about our relationship and so verbally abused me and mentally abused me and wanted me to tell him I love him-which at this point, I could not say without feeling sick to my stomach I fianally went to sleep exhausted and tired and upset knowing I had to get up for work in the morning and go and get my daughters from a previous marriage off to school.  I woke up that night and turned over and looked at him. I truly felt an overwhelming urge to get a cast iron frying pan and hit him as hard as I could with it while  he slept. LOL- No, Im not crazy I was just FED UP and so "OVER IT" I knew then that I had to get out and fast! This wasnt healthy and I was miserable because he made me miserable! I left him a few days later and never looked back.  I didnt even show up for the actual divorce proceedings. I said he could have what he wanted but to leave me and my children alone. I have not seen him in years and I hope I never see him again in this life time! Anyway, I think its important for parents to raise their sons with self confidence as well as daughters, of course.  The reason some of these men act this way is because they are still insecure little boys and have never gotten past it! This is something that can take a normally great child that will turn into a great man someday and rip that dream apart! The insecure little boy is left to become a insecure man and that has got to be the worst feeling in the world. Always scared your wife/girlfriend/partner will leave you for so  meone better. You are never worthy of anything. Every mother should tell her son everyday how wonderful he is, every father should always let their son know he is always proud of him!
Anyway, thanks for letting me express my opinion- Also, FYI: I never did hit my ex husband with the frying pan but it did become an obession dream I had for a few days before I left him! LOL

Thanks
Wendy
Texas-USA