Domestic violence (https://www.dasasmi.org/post/what-is-domestic-violence) can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.​ Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.​ Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. So the question is: How does domestic violence affect the brain? What kind of damage does abuse have on one of our most important organs? And how can we recover? DASAS therapist and licensed social worker Elizabeth Alderson talks with host Claudia Pahls about the effects of domestic abuse on our brains. ——————————— If you need resources or help in any way, call our 24 hour hotline at 800-828-2023 or visit www.DASASMI.org. Subscribe for a new episode each week. We publish every Wednesday morning at 8:00am. Subscribe to the weekly email newsletter here (http://eepurl.com/gtqeRb) or at our website here (https://www.dasasmi.org/podcast). We appreciate your help in spreading the message of hope. You can help us reach more listeners by leaving a written review on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/im-not-in-an-abusive-relationship/id1457515257?mt=2) or where you listen, and by sharing on social media.