by Jennifer Macon-Steele

Created on: January 10, 2010

With Charlie Sheen being accused in the media of domestic violence against his wife, concerns about violence against women are again on many people’s minds.

 Sheen is reported to have held his wife, Brooke Mueller, down on a bed and threatened her at knife point. Charlie Sheen has had romantic problems before. His divorce with ex-wife Denise Richards was a nasty affair played out in the media. The actor has also struggled with alcohol and drug abuse in the past. This is the first time, though, that he has been arrested for domestic violence.

 Sheen and Mueller have infant twin sons.

 How does a married couple get to the point where arguments become dangerously violent? What makes a person want to physically hurt a spouse?

Use of drugs and alcohol can be a factor in domestic violence situations. Statistics have shown again and again that alcohol and drug abuse plays a role in people not being able to control their anger or their actions. Many people who are drunk or high find themselves engaging in behavior they would not consider sober. Reports are that both Sheen and Mueller were drinking the night of the violent episode.

 Another trigger to domestic violence can be a lack of anger management. Everyone gets angry, and sometimes anger can be an overwhelming feeling. If people are not taught in childhood or at a later time to control their anger, those feelings can explode in violent ways. People who hurt people or animals and who destroy property when they are angry do not have appropriate anger management abilities. These people should seek help for their problems with anger so that they are able to refrain from damaging people and property.

 Other emotional issues can also contribute to a tendency toward domestic violence. People experience all kinds of emotional problems that they hide from others. Sometimes theses problems come out in violent ways. People who have had abusive childhoods or emotional trauma can sometimes find themselves behaving in a way that is out of control. These people can be helped by psychological professionals and should certainly seek that help.

 Unfortunately emotional problems, lack of anger management and substance abuse tend to go hand in hand. One leads to the other, which leads to the next until an abusive situation is the result.

 No one should have to live with domestic violence in their lives. Victims of domestic abuse must gather the courage to get away from that situation for themselves and their children. Those who cannot control their anger must seek help.

 Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller are a celebrity example of domestic violence, but there are many couples throughout the world who experience this every day.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Macon-Steele.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.