Old Proverbs Misused

Although it is common to hear "Blood is thicker than water," relationships much stronger than those that exist within biological families do exist. This is especially true in family systems that are very dysfunctional, riddled with chronic or mental illnesses, and low in Emotional Intelligence. In such environments, sometimes family members abuse you, control you, insult you, abandon you, and put you down or you watch them do that to other family members—at least until you grow up and can get away. Some can kill you faster than most any stranger. Did you know that as compared with men, women account for 60 percent of homicides committed within the family or by partners. Women have more than twice the risk of being killed by their partner or ex-partners.