(...) I think that some of these behaviours are intended to control or manipulate, but I wonder if the lack of social understanding (...) accounts for some of this behaviour. But then where does the line stop? I personally don't accept the excuse of stress, alcohol, drugs, (most) mental illness as the CAUSE or REASON for domestic violence, so how is this different? I've been doing a bit of thinking about it, and it's starting to do my head in. I thought I'd share my thoughts with the feministing community (...) to see what other people think and if maybe other people's opinions can help to make sense of what I heard and witnessed.
I removed the clinical expressions because I don't want people to come to this blog via search of those expressions. Partners of people with the condition, and especially women who go through a repetition of experience while being mothers, need this work to be done by someone who has deepness, compassion, and gentleness to bring up the discussion exactly on this level. There needed to be a middle-range between M. Aston and D. Barnbaum (both offered valuable accounts, but readers' accessibility is key).
