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How Can I Best Leave an Abusive Marriage and What Should I Do?

   

Legal

How Can I Best Leave an Abusive Marriage and What Should I Do?

 JUL 02, 2020

Did you know that every minute, 20 people are physically abused by their intimate partners? That totals to more than 10 million people in just one year.

And the worst part? That statistic doesn’t even cover psychological or emotional abuse which is even more common than physical abuse. Are you in an abusive marriage?

If you said no, are you sure? Spotting psychological and emotional abuse can be more difficult than identifying physical abuse, but we can help you find the differences and guide you to help.

Signs of Abuse

For those in a toxic relationship, identifying the specific type(s) of abuse can seem daunting. A good place to start is looking for broad and general signs of abuse.

This can include traits of possessiveness and jealousy as well as verbal signs like threats and put-downs. The tell-tale sign of an abusive relationship is, of course, physical and/or sexual violence.

With people now exploring their sexuality more than ever, it can be difficult to decipher whether your partner is exploring a fantasy, or they’re abusing you. During sex and throughout your days, pay attention to their behavior for these toxic traits.

Another sign of abuse is focused on you, the victim. If you find yourself excusing their behavior often or you blame yourself for the way they’re acting all the time, you are likely in an abusive marriage.

In more extreme cases, the victim can experience Stockholm syndrome, which is typically considered as a psychological coping mechanism. If you are experiencing Stockholm syndrome, you are likely to brush off the idea. It helps to see a professional or to reach out to a friend who can help you spot the signs.

Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse, also known as emotional abuse, is the most difficult to spot as it is very manipulative. If left unchecked, over time the victim will begin to internalize this abuse and they’ll believe it’s true and it’s their fault. Because it’s so elusive and hard to identify, between 50 and 80 percent of adults are at risk of psychological abuse.

Most psychological abuse is used to shame, humiliate, and instill fear into the victim so the abuser can assume power and control. Because the abusers want said control, a good indicator of emotional abuse is the constant knowledge of where you are at all times. This includes tracking you from your phone, controlling where you go, deciding who you hang out with, forcing you to be home at certain times, the list goes on.

Another trick used by psychological abusers is gaslighting.  This form of manipulation makes you wonder if an incident or something else was real or not. You will start to question your own sanity, wondering if maybe your abuser is right and perhaps you had just remembered wrong.

Psychological abuse isn’t just limited to these traits and methods, though. Another common trick that psychological abusers use is emotional neglect.

Essentially, they’ll start to ignore you by not communicating with you, perhaps disappearing with no mention, turning others against you. They’ll even attempt to emotionally isolate you from others to maintain control.

They can do this by assassinating your character which would turn your friends away; they’ll try to come in between you and your family, and much more. Doing all this may seem counterproductive on the abuser’s part, especially if they’re shutting you out, but if you have no one to go to except for them, that’s exactly what they want.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the one most often discussed and portrayed in television and film. Just like with psychological abuse, the main goal of the abuser is to gain power and control over the victim. While the methods utilized by an emotional abuser are subtle and hard to detect, those used by a physical abuser are clear and intimidating.

When discussing how the victim feels, in a psychologically abusive relationship, your feelings are sometimes confusing and you tend to blame yourself, painting your abuser as the “good guy”.

With physical abuse, you’ll still wonder if perhaps you are to blame for their behavior, but you’ll also feel afraid of your partner. You may avoid talking about certain things because you don’t want to make your partner angry, you think that you deserve to be mistreated, and in extreme situations, you may even feel emotionally numb.

Physical abusers use tactics utilized by emotional abusers like belittling and they carry similar traits like possessiveness and jealousy, but what sets them apart is that when those methods fail, they get physical. Physical abusers tend to have a bad temper, they threaten you with harm of all extents, they use you for sex, and they can even threaten suicide if you were to leave them.

Another thing to note is that physical abuse follows a cycle: abuse, guilt, excuses, “normal” behavior, fantasizing, and the set-up. If you think you are a victim of physical abuse or you believe you are in an abusive marriage or relationship, refer to this cycle and look at where you are now and how past incidents have played out.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is the one most often discussed and portrayed in television and film. Just like with psychological abuse, the main goal of the abuser is to gain power and control over the victim. While the methods utilized by an emotional abuser are subtle and hard to detect, those used by a physical abuser are clear and intimidating.

When discussing how the victim feels, in a psychologically abusive relationship, your feelings are sometimes confusing and you tend to blame yourself, painting your abuser as the “good guy”.

With physical abuse, you’ll still wonder if perhaps you are to blame for their behavior, but you’ll also feel afraid of your partner. You may avoid talking about certain things because you don’t want to make your partner angry, you think that you deserve to be mistreated, and in extreme situations, you may even feel emotionally numb.

Physical abusers use tactics utilized by emotional abusers like belittling and they carry similar traits like possessiveness and jealousy, but what sets them apart is that when those methods fail, they get physical. Physical abusers tend to have a bad temper, they threaten you with harm of all extents, they use you for sex, and they can even threaten suicide if you were to leave them.

Another thing to note is that physical abuse follows a cycle: abuse, guilt, excuses, “normal” behavior, fantasizing, and the set-up. If you think you are a victim of physical abuse or you believe you are in an abusive marriage or relationship, refer to this cycle and look at where you are now and how past incidents have played out.

Abuse of Men

While definitely not as common as women with male abusers, men can be the victims. In fact, 29% of straight men have been physically abused by their partners. When discussing emotional abuse, nearly 48% of men have been abused.

Because of the toxic masculinity instilled by the patriarchal society we live in, most men don’t feel comfortable discussing their own mental health, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. Not only do they not feel comfortable discussing these things with others, but they don’t want to admit to themselves that these things are happening to them.

For men, spotting the signs of abuse is the same as if you were a woman. While it may be difficult, it’s time to stop being one of the 830,000 men a year that are victims of domestic abuse.

What Should I Do?

If you truly believe you are in an abusive relationship, it’s time to come up with a plan. Are you leaving? Are you filing for divorce or breaking up with them?

Your plan is crucial to your escape. If you live with your abuser, things can get difficult. You’ll want to find a way out of your lease or at least communicate with your landlord or leasing office regarding your current situation.

Whatever your plan may be, you should have a place to go at a moment’s notice. Alerting your family or your friends is a great option for this. If you aren’t ready to tell your family what’s been happening, that is completely valid and understandable, you’ll just want to contact a close friend first.

If you aren’t leaving right away, start documenting everything that happens. This can come in handy should you decide to press charges on your abuser. They’ll also help you know you aren’t insane, you can share them with a therapist, and you can even refer to them should you find yourself in another abusive relationship.

Another tip if you aren’t leaving right away is to have an emergency bag ready to go. Should you need to flee at a moment’s notice, you don’t want to stick around packing while your abuser is agitated. If your abuser is known to tarnish your belongings, you can consider packing items that have significant value to you, however, you should prioritize necessities first.

To avoid an outburst that could be detrimental, hide your emergency bag where you know your abuser won’t find it. Along with your emergency bag, hide a good amount of money so you can support yourself while you stay with your friends or with family.

Reaching out for Help

If you still aren’t sure that you’re in an abusive marriage or relationship, reach out for help. Making a quick call to the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be a big help in determining whether or not you’re a victim.

If you don’t feel comfortable with calling out of fear of your abuser, consider talking to a therapist should you have one. If this isn’t an option, search your area for local help centers and plan a visit without the knowledge of your abuser.

If none of these are options, as we’ve mentioned before, reach out to friends or family. They know you just as much as you know yourself and will be willing to help in any way possible.

Should I Press Charges?

While to an outsider this question may be very straightforward and easy to answer, for a victim, it’s more challenging. Should your plans fail and you end up back with the abuser, them knowing you pressed charges or you were going to could escalate things. Or perhaps you truly believe they’re a good person and you don’t want them to go to jail.

Whatever the reason is, you have the option to call the police or file a criminal complaint. Should you not do so, nothing will likely happen. You can leave the relationship or marriage, not do anything legally, and then be done with it, however, there is always the risk that the abuser can return.

Should you press charges, then you don’t have much of a say when it comes to their court case and if they get jail time. When it comes down to it, the decision is yours.

What About Divorce?

While this question carries many of the same pros and cons of pressing charges, it can be a bit trickier. Should you decide to leave your abusive marriage, your abuser could beg you to stay and say they’ll change.

How do you know this isn’t just another trick? Will they change?

It’s an important decision to make, but should you decide to not believe them and you go through your divorce, if you have kids, you’ll want to assume custody of them. Most states lean into what’s best for the child so if you have proof of abuse, that can go a long way. If you kept a journal as we discussed earlier or you still have bruises or scars, all of that can be evidence of your abuse.

If you’re still on the fence, it’s a good idea to learn more and consider finding an affordable lawyer.

The Road to Recovery

Recovering from an abusive relationship is not an easy journey and it will take time. Exposure to both long-term physical and emotional abuse could result in PTSD and trust issues. Taking your time to recuperate and instill trust in others is important for your recovery.

Because it’s common to blame yourself for the behavior of your abusers, once out of the relationship you could be angry with yourself for not recognizing the abuse earlier. You need to forgive yourself and start building up to loving and trusting yourself again. None of the abuse was your fault and you need to start being comfortable with that.

It’s also helpful to search your area for local support groups. Many can likely be found at the local help centers we referred to earlier. Speaking anonymously with other domestic abuse survivors can be a big help not only to you but to others as well.

Moving on From Your Abusive Marriage

Recovering from an abusive marriage or relationship takes time, but eventually, you’ll reach the point in your life where it’s time to move on. It’s important to keep hold of the lessons you learned and the knowledge you’ve gained, but your abuser doesn’t deserve any more power over you. It’s time to leave them behind.

If you found this article helpful in any way or you think it may benefit someone you know, be sure to share it with them. If you would like to read more content like this, go ahead and check out the rest of our blog. And remember, you are not alone.

#crime #domesticviolence #abuse #abusiverelationshp

   

My Patriot Supply 

Mike Lurk

Camping Survival Gear: Creating A Wildcrafting Survival Cooking Toolkit

Hobbies Articles | April 30, 2012

Learn about basic wildcrafting tools to place in your survival gear when adventure camping with the intent for survival cooking, plant collection and storage.

Wildcrafting is something that survival enthusiasts do. Simply put, wildcrafting is the collection or gathering of plants that you did not personally plant. However, it is very important to be prepared with a wildcrafting survival cooking toolkit as some plants can be dangerous when consumed.

Tools For Harvesting Your Survival Cooking Plants

There are some basic tools that every wild-crafter needs in their survival gear. First and foremost is a good survival gear bag to hold everything. Then you need a plant field guide that you can use for identifying plants. You also want to pack a survival knife or two. Your survival gear should also include a pot you can heat over a fire, a source of fire such as matches or a lighter, and a source of water. Many wild crafted herbs and plants can be boiled to create broths or soups that can sustain your nutritional needs while camping. In addition, you want to have some sort of container (plastic bags, vials, or waterproof boxes) to store the gathered plants in. If you have the need of grinding plants for medicinal purposes you can always pick up a set of stones from your surroundings to supplement your survival gear.

Choosing A Survival Knife And Other Cutting Tools

For survival cooking, a basic multi-tool kit like a Swiss Army Knife is a good idea. However, for true wild-crafting success you will also want to include additional survival knife options. A Entrek Knife is a great soil knife, which is also sometimes called a grubber and it takes up little space in your pack. Some suggestions for your survival gear kit include a pruner and a holster. A lopping shear in an anvil style are also good for cutting roots and branches for your survival cooking, but you need to consider size and how much gear you want to carry when adding this tool to your kit.

Additional Survival Gear For Your Survival Cooking Toolkit

If you're serious about supplementing your diet with wild crafting while you are camping, you definitely want to include a digging or spading fork to help loosen soil around compacted plants. In addition to your main survival gear pack you may also want to consider including a decent stash of burlap bags. While you can buy these outright, you can also find burlap bags that are useful wild crafting tools by recycling your rice, peanut, chili, or coffee bags as these items are often transported in burlap. Other containers you will want to have on hand are plastic bags, paper bags, and glass or plastic containers which have seal tight lids. These items can prolong the survival of your collected plants and herbs until you make camp, especially if you are going to be camping for several days. Plastic storage containers are more practical than glass due to breakage and are also good for storing extra broth or medicinal preparations you've created in the field. These items along with a quality survival knifeshould create a basic Wild crafting survival cooking kit you can build on

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have been a Hunting Knife enthusiast for years and have brought my passion to create a webstore that offers quality hunting knives and tools for hunters in the USA.

Your Hunting Knife Specialist

Mike Lurk

http://www.steelhuntingknives.com/

#survival #prepping #camping #outdoors

For those of you upset about Trump's $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund:

 

For those of you upset about Trump's $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund:

Kamala Harris bailed out rioters in Minneapolis  during the George Floyd Riots that lasted 3 months. January 6 was only 3 hours. Hardly anyone was arrested during the George Floyd Riots. Over 300 people were killed. Hundreds of Cops were injured. A retired Cop was Killed. Several Cops were blinded by lasers aimed at their eyes. 100 BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES were burned Down in Minneapolis alone. I saw 9 LA Police vehicles torched on a Saturday during the George Floyd Riots. 

No Cops died on J6 no matter what they tell you. The only person that died was a 5'2 120lb 14 year Air Force Veteran (Ashli Babbit) who was just there.

The Cop they say died from being hit in the head with a fire extinguisher was a lie. He died 5 day later from a stroke. Autopsy proved it. The other 4 Cops died or suicide months and years later. Yet Biden and Democrats always said 5 people died on J6. They ignore Ashli Babbit shot in the neck by a bad cop. Also, people who were simply there were locked up in Solitary confinement for years with no Lawyer. 

That is why he created the fund. One guy had his business shut down because the Biden Administration's war on people creating supplements to fight Covid...and the product was approved. Then they came back and charged him criminally for the same thing after the civil mess.

I hope they ALL get paid. Look what they tried to do to Joe Rogan just for saying there were alternatives to the SHOT. They [LEFT] tried to destroy him. And he was a BERNIE SANDERS supporter!!! The LEFT eats their own if you step out of line.

#Trump #$1776billionAntiWeaponizationFund #J6 #January6 #SummerofLove #KamalaHarris #Biden

Trump’s $1.776 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund Is the Justice Americans Deserve

If you want to understand why Donald Trump felt compelled to create a $1.776 billion fund to defend Americans targeted by a weaponized legal and bureaucratic system, look no further than the two Americas that have emerged over the past four years. On the one hand, you have the rioters who torched cities, assaulted police officers, and destroyed black-owned businesses during the 2020 “Summer of Love” and were literally bailed out by Kamala Harris. On the other, you have the January 6 protesters, many of whom walked peacefully into the Capitol and have since been locked in solitary confinement, denied counsel, and crushed under the weight of a vindictive Justice Department. The contrast could not be starker, and it is precisely this double standard that Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund seeks to remedy.

While the corporate media and the Democratic establishment have spent years constructing a narrative that January 6 was the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War, they have conveniently memory-holed the months of violent unrest that swept American cities in 2020. From late May through August, the George Floyd riots left a trail of devastation that makes January 6 look like a minor scuffle yet the response from the left was not condemnation, but celebration.

More than 300 people lost their lives during the nationwide riots. Let that number sink in. Over 300 deaths, not over a contested election or a political speech, but in a wave of destruction that progressive leaders called “mostly peaceful.” Hundreds of police officers were injured. A retired St. Louis police captain, David Dorn, was murdered on video while trying to protect a friend’s pawn shop from looters. Numerous cops were permanently blinded by rioters aiming high-powered lasers at their eyes. In Minneapolis alone, 100 black-owned businesses were burned to the ground a statistic that should have horrified anyone who claims to care about racial equity. Yet on a single Saturday in Los Angeles, I watched nine police vehicles engulfed in flames, and the reaction from Democrats and the press was a collective shrug.

And who was there to support the people arrested during this orgy of violence? None other than then-Senator Kamala Harris, who used her platform to encourage donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a group that posted bail for rioters. “If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota,” Harris tweeted. The fund freed from jail individuals charged with crimes ranging from looting to assault and at least one beneficiary went on to commit murder after being bailed out. That is not hyperbole; it is a documented fact that the left would rather you forget.

Even those rioters who faced charges were largely given soft plea deals, probation, or had their cases dismissed entirely. The message was unmistakable: if your cause is sanctified by the left, the law is a mere suggestion. The “Summer of Love” was, in reality, a summer of sanctioned violence, and Kamala Harris was the den mother of the movement.

Now compare this to January 6. The Capitol breach lasted approximately three hours. No police officer was killed that day. The only person who died on the scene was Ashli Babbitt, a 5-foot-2, 120-pound Air Force veteran who served her country for 14 years. She was unarmed, posed no lethal threat, and was shot in the neck by a police officer who has never been held accountable. Democrats and the media have made a saint of George Floyd, yet they dismiss Babbitt’s death as a footnote, or worse, imply she deserved it.

You have been told repeatedly that a Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher by a pro-Trump mob. That was a lie, and the autopsy proves it. Sicknick died the following day from two strokes. The medical examiner found no evidence of blunt-force trauma or an allergic reaction to chemical irritants. His death was a tragedy, but it was not a homicide committed by a rioter a fact the Washington D.C. medical examiner confirmed, and which the media quietly buried after pushing the fire extinguisher fable for months. The other four officers cited among the “five deaths” on January 6 died by suicide weeks or even months later, which, while heartbreaking, cannot be laid at the feet of a three-hour protest.

Yet the Biden administration and its allies in the press continue to insist that five people “died as a result of” January 6, neatly erasing Ashli Babbitt and inflating a narrative of deadly insurrection. This calculated dishonesty has served as the justification for one of the most sweeping persecutions of political dissenters in American history.

The treatment of January 6 defendants is a national disgrace. People who merely walked through open doors were rounded up, thrown into solitary confinement, held for years without trial, and denied access to lawyers. Some were hit with charges like “parading” and still spent months in isolation a punishment so severe that the United Nations has condemned it as cruel and inhumane. Meanwhile, parents who dared to speak out at school board meetings were investigated by the FBI, Catholics who attended traditional Latin Mass were flagged as potential extremists, and one small-business owner who marketed a legally approved supplement to help people fight COVID saw his company destroyed by the Biden administration in a civil case, only to be criminally charged later for the same product. This is the very definition of weaponized government.

And then there is the case of Joe Rogan. Here is a man who supported Bernie Sanders in 2020, whose politics lean libertarian-left, and who simply had conversations on his podcast about alternatives to the COVID shot. For that sin, the left tried to destroy him. They smeared him as a dangerous conspiracy theorist, pressured Spotify to censor him, and deployed the full machinery of the medical-industrial complex to discredit any discussion of early treatments or natural immunity. If they can do that to a wildly popular multimillionaire with an enormous platform, what chance does the average American have? The left eats its own the moment they step out of line, and the lesson for the rest of us is clear: fall in line or be crushed.

This is the context in which Trump’s $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund was announced. The dollar figure is deliberately evocative, tying the initiative to the spirit of 1776 and the founding principles of liberty and resistance against tyranny. It is not taxpayer money; it is a fund that will draw on private donations and targeted legal resources to defend Americans who find themselves in the crosshairs of a politicized justice system. The fund will support legal fees, expose prosecutorial overreach, and help rebuild the lives of those who have been bankrupted and imprisoned simply because they hold the wrong political views.

To the left, the very existence of such a fund is an outrage because it threatens their monopoly on moral authority. They want you to believe that bailing out BLM rioters was an act of charity, but that providing a lawyer to a grandmother who walked through the Capitol is an act of sedition. They scream about threats to democracy while a Democratic president’s DOJ targets his chief political opponent with lawfare. The fund is a direct challenge to that hypocrisy.

Conservatives understand what is at stake. A government that can destroy the life of a janitor who took a selfie in the Capitol can destroy yours. A state that can shut down a supplement company because it offended federal health bureaucrats can shut down your business. A media-corporate apparatus that tries to cancel Joe Rogan will not hesitate to cancel you. The Anti-Weaponization Fund is not about Donald Trump; it is about the principle that no American should be ruined because the powers that be have decided they are an enemy of the regime.

The fund’s detractors will call it a political stunt, but ask yourself: when was the last time a major political figure put real money $1.776 billion — behind a systematic effort to defend ordinary citizens from government abuse? The Biden administration’s answer to political dissent has been to label concerned parents domestic terrorists, to create a Disinformation Governance Board, and to sic the FBI on traditionalist Catholics. Trump’s answer is to give those victims the best legal representation money can buy and to shine a blazing light on the injustices they suffer.

The Ashli Babbitts of the world deserve justice. The nonviolent J6 defendants rotting in solitary deserve their day in court with competent counsel. The small-business owner bankrupted by a two-faced regulatory assault deserves restitution. And the police officers permanently disabled by the rioters whom Kamala Harris helped spring from jail deserve to see a system that treats their attackers with the same ruthless severity it reserves for political conservatives.

You do not have to like Donald Trump’s style to recognize that the Anti-Weaponization Fund addresses a deep and dangerous rot in American governance. When a retired cop can be murdered by looters and the vice president effectively cheers on the mob, while an unarmed veteran is shot dead by a government agent and the White House ignores her name, the scales of justice are broken. Trump’s fund is an attempt to rebalance them. I hope every targeted American gets paid, and more importantly, I hope the nation wakes up to the two-tiered system before it is too late.

Former first lady Jill Biden joins TODAY to talk about her new memoir “View from the East Wing,” reflecting on her years in the White House and her husband Joe Biden’s presidency.

YA GOTTA SEE THIS

Former first lady Jill Biden joins TODAY to talk about her new memoir “View from the East Wing,” reflecting on her years in the White House and her husband Joe Biden’s presidency.

#Biden #JillBiden #Whitehouse

Wars Aren't Like a 3 Hour Movie

Wars Aren't Like a 3 Hour Movie

Sit Down and Relax

You can't rush a solution to a problem that has been around 1979. He wants to get it right. That is why I VOTED for him 3 times because past President's- Life Long Politicians have mucked the Iran situation up for 47 years. He is not in a hurry and neither should you be.

BTW, gas prices NOW are STILL cheaper than under Biden. If you weren't crying then, than don't cry now.

Desert Storm lasted longer than this ... and we ran 'BADAGH BOB' and SADAM out of Kuwait. The war started January 16th , 1991. I was leaving on April 7th, 1991. 

620,000 to 750,000 people died during the Civil War

9 to 10 Million Americans died during WWI

Approximately 420,000 Americans died during World War II

An estimated 70 to 85 million people died during World War II. This total includes approximately 21 to 25 million military personnel and 40 to 55 million civilians who were killed by combat, deliberate genocide, starvation, and war-related diseases. million people died in World War II, including about 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians.

A total of 58,220 U.S. military personnel died or went missing in action during the Vietnam War. This official figure, maintained by the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

WAR IS HELL ... So far we have only lost 13 over Iran.

Remember, 40% of DEMOCRATS want IRAN to WIN. They're just as stupid as those young girls joined ISIS and got raped and murdered. What did you think was gonna a happen.

Love your Country more than you hate your President. Biden was the worst ever! I didn't HATE him. And I still loved my country.

#War #Wars #Iran #MiddleEast #WWII #Vietnam #WWI #KoreanWar

Raw Foods Diet is Beneficial to Your Health

   

Raw Foods Diet is Beneficial to Your Health

The benefits advocated from eating such a diet seem endless: lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, eliminating cravings, preventing overeating, purging the body of accumulated toxins, balancing hormones, maintaining blood glucose levels and reversing degenerative diseases.

Followers of a raw diet cite numerous health benefits, including increased energy levels, improved appearance of skin, improved digestion, weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease, just to name a few. Proponents believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.

There can be some side effects when you are first starting a raw foods diet. Some detoxification effects may be experienced as your body attempts to shed some toxicity. This may include occasional headaches, nausea sensations and mild depression. If these symptoms persist, you should seek the help of somebody who is experienced with detoxification symptoms. 

Following a raw food diet means that you have to carefully plan your meals to make sure you don't fall short of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In some instances it might be appropriate to consider taking dietary supplements, especially when just starting out. You'll need to invest in some appliances so that you are able to prepare the food, if you don’t already have them available. A durable juicer, a blender and a large food processor make raw food preparation a breeze. You may also want to look into purchasing large containers to soak sprouts, grains and beans, as well as for storage. A durable juice extractor for your fruits and vegetables 

The smoothest way to begin a raw foods lifestyle is to slowly transition into it. Try starting off by eating approximately 70 to 80 percent raw foods in your diet. Have fruit and salads throughout the day and a cooked vegetable meal with a salad in the evening. This should help make the transition easier on your body and hopefully lessen side effects associated with detoxification. This is an emotional time as well, so you should allow yourself plenty of time to make the switch. Journaling during the process can help. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling the positive effects of a healthy, detoxifying raw foods diet.

#Raw #RawFoods #Diet #Health

The East Palestine Train Derailment Was Not Trump's Fault

 

 

The East Palestine Train Derailment Was Not Trump's Fault

They GasLit You Up! You May Want to Check This Out ...

The Biden Team is/was blaming Trump for the train wreck. They're saying DEREGULATION led to less Safety. That entire line is bogus. Obama implemented a regulation that required certain types of trains carrying HIGH FLAMMABLE LIQUID material had to have a break system that applied the breaks to every car at once. The regular system applied the breaks to each car individually. The back story is that Obama wanted it more expensive to move oil by rail. He wanted to stick it to the Oil  companies by making it more expensive for them to move their product. Obama was shady like that. The system wasn't cost effective according to the Industry and the DO. So, during the Trump Administration Congress had the DOT do a cost/safety assessment and have the Budget Office complete a report. That requirement was then rescinded by Congress, not Trump, the Whitehouse, or the EPA.

BTW, the regulation wouldn't have applied in this situation anyway because for some reason this train wasn't classified as the type of train mentioned in the original regulation. Maybe they should be asking Obama why only Cars carrying PETROLEUM products had to apply by his regulation.

Mayor Pete just wants more regulation, and more Government. He GasLit you ...!!!

Question EVERYTHING!!!

#eastpalestine #trainderailment #Obama #Trump

The German Shepherd Dog Breed

  

The German Shepherd Dog Breed

#GermanShepherd #Dogs #Dog #Pets

The German Shepherd dog is a study in contrasts: a fierce, tireless guardian capable of taking down a fleeing suspect, yet a gentle family companion who leans against your leg for an ear scratch. It’s no accident that this breed has become the most recognizable working dog on the planet. From police K-9 units and military special forces to the living room sofa, the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) blends intelligence, athleticism, and a deeply loyal heart in a package that few other breeds can match. For a new dog owner, the German Shepherd is a demanding but profoundly rewarding choice—a partner that will give you everything it has, as long as you’re willing to do the same.

Chilling on the deck this beautiful Sunday morning

A Breed Built for Purpose

The German Shepherd didn’t evolve by chance. It was deliberately created in the late 19th century by Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer who dreamed of a supreme working dog. After seeing a wolf-like dog named Hektor Linksrhein at a show, von Stephanitz purchased him, renamed him Horand von Grafrath, and launched the breed. His guiding principle was “utility and intelligence,” not just appearance. He insisted on strong nerves, trainability, endurance, and an unwavering desire to work. In a few short decades, the GSD had proven itself as a herder, a Red Cross war dog, a guide for the blind, and eventually the gold standard for police and military service. That founding philosophy still defines the breed today: this is a dog with a job to do, whether it’s chasing a scent, protecting its family, or simply learning a new trick.

Why Law Enforcement and the Military Choose the German Shepherd

If you’ve ever seen a police dog in action, chances are it was a German Shepherd. The relationship is so symbiotic that the term “police dog” often conjures the image of a tan-and-black GSD, ears up, eyes focused. This didn’t happen by accident—the breed’s unique combination of physical and mental traits makes it an almost unbeatable partner in life-or-death situations.

The foundation of that suitability is *trainability and intelligence*. German Shepherds consistently rank in the top tier of canine intelligence. They don’t just learn commands quickly; they possess an uncanny ability to problem-solve and apply learned behaviors to new contexts. A police K-9 might be trained to track a suspect through a muddy field, ignore gunfire, scale a fence, and then hold the person with a controlled bite all while reading the handler’s minute cues. This requires a mind that can switch from high-drive pursuit to calm obedience in a split second. The GSD’s desire to work *with* humans, rather than independently like some scent hounds, makes them ideal for the tight teamwork demanded by tactical operations.

Then there’s courage and nerve strength. In military and police work, a dog must remain steady under extreme stress explosions, helicopter rides, aggressive crowds. German Shepherds were bred for “heart” and an absence of skittishness. A well-bred working-line GSD will confidently enter a dark building, face a threatening individual, and still respond to its handler’s quietest command. This isn’t recklessness; it’s a genetically anchored confidence that allows them to assess a threat without panic.

Physical prowess matters too. The GSD’s slightly long, muscular body, deep chest, and effortless ground-covering trot give it incredible endurance. They can work a 12-hour patrol shift, cover miles of terrain in a search, or sprint down a suspect with explosive speed. Their dense double coat protects against weather extremes, from snowy mountain passes to scorching desert deployments. Their powerful jaws can deliver a controlled, full-mouth grip that immobilizes without needlessly injuring a suspect—a testament to the breed’s trainability even in a high-arousal state.

Perhaps the single most important trait is the olfactory ability. A German Shepherd’s nose contains over 225 million scent receptors, and the part of their brain devoted to analyzing odors is proportionally forty times larger than a human’s. This makes them masters at detection work: narcotics, explosives, accelerants, currency, and even human remains. Military working dogs (MWDs) often specialize as improvised explosive device (IED) detectors, a role where their nose saves countless lives. In recent conflicts, a single German Shepherd team could clear a route more effectively than a squad of soldiers using electronic countermeasures, because the dog detects the chemical signature of explosives themselves, not just metallic components.

The military also values the breed’s versatility. A German Shepherd can serve as a sentry, a scout dog that silently alerts to hidden enemies, a search-and-rescue asset after a natural disaster, or a combat tracker following a guerrilla’s faint trail through jungle or desert. Across all these roles, the dog’s unshakeable bond with its handler is the glue. A military handler lives, eats, and sleeps beside their dog. That loyalty is operational: a GSD will defend its handler with its life, and the trust between them allows the team to function in scenarios where a miscommunication could be fatal. Agencies like the U.S. military and police forces worldwide have tested many breeds, but they consistently return to the German Shepherd because it offers the most balanced package of nose, nerve, bite, and brain.

Unwavering Loyalty and a Friendly Heart

Talk to any German Shepherd owner, and they’ll tell you this breed has an almost human-like capacity for devotion. But loyalty in a GSD is not the same as the tail-wagging, everybody-is-my-friend affection of a Labrador Retriever. It’s a deeper, more selective bond that can easily be misunderstood. For a new owner, understanding the nuanced nature of this loyalty is key to building a happy relationship.

A German Shepherd’s world revolves around its pack, its family. Once you earn its trust, you become the center of its universe. This manifests as a constant, quiet vigilance. A GSD will follow you from room to room, position itself with a clear view of doors and windows, and listen to your voice with an intensity that feels almost telepathic. They are “Velcro dogs” in the truest sense, happiest when in physical contact or close proximity. This bond is the reason they excel as personal protection dogs; they aren’t just trained to guard, they want to protect their people because they value them above all else.

And this is where the “friendly” part comes in, often as a delightful surprise to those who only see the breed’s stern public image. Within their trusted circle, German Shepherds are unbelievably gentle and goofy. They’ll nuzzle your hand, roll over for belly rubs, and engage in playful antics that look ridiculous for such a dignified animal. Many GSDs are exceptionally patient and tender with children they’ve been raised alongside, instinctively toning down their rough-and-tumble play. They are emotionally sensitive, often picking up on sadness or stress and responding with a quiet head on your knee. The same dog that can sprint after a suspect and look terrifying will, at home, allow a toddler to pat its ears and steal its toys. This capacity for dual-natured behavior fierce when needed, soft when safe is the breed’s true magic.

However, that loyalty has another face: aloofness with strangers. A properly tempered German Shepherd is not an aggressive menace, but it is naturally reserved. It won’t instantly greet every visitor with a wagging tail like a Golden Retriever. Instead, it will assess, standing calmly but watchfully until it reads your cues that this person is welcome. This is loyalty expressing itself as discernment. A new owner must understand that a friendly GSD is one that has been extensively socialized from puppyhood. Expose your puppy to dozens of positive experiences with all kinds of people, places, and other animals. This doesn’t dilute its protective instincts; it gives the dog the confidence to discriminate between normal and truly threatening situations. An under-socialized German Shepherd’s loyalty can curdle into fear-based aggression or an inability to accept anyone outside the immediate family, leading to a stressful, isolated life. When raised correctly, that loyal heart expands to include a wide circle of “approved friends,” making the dog a polite, accepting companion who still saves its deepest devotion for you.

Living with a German Shepherd: What New Owners Need to Know

Bringing a GSD into your home means signing up for a partnership, not a low-maintenance pet. These are high-energy, high-intelligence animals that require more than just a walk around the block. Plan on at least an hour of vigorous exercise daily running, fetch, swimming, or structured play along with mental challenges. Puzzle toys, obedience training sessions, scent work games (even hiding treats around the house), and learning new commands are essential. A bored German Shepherd will invent its own entertainment, and you won’t like the landscaping or furniture redesign.

Training must be consistent, positive, and firm, but never harsh. The breed is so sensitive to its handler’s emotions that heavy-handed corrections can break its spirit or spark defensive reactions. Use clear boundaries, reward-based methods, and establish yourself as a calm, trustworthy leader. Early puppy classes and ongoing socialization are non-negotiable. Teaching a reliable recall and a solid “leave it” can be lifesaving, given the breed’s protective tendencies.

Be prepared for the coat. German Shepherds shed prodigiously affectionately nicknamed “German Shedders” and will blow their undercoat twice a year. Daily brushing is your new normal. They also thrive on closeness and can develop separation anxiety if left alone for long, lonely hours. This is a dog that wants to be integrated into your daily life, not banished to the backyard.

Health considerations include hip and elbow dysplasia, which responsible breeders screen for via OFA or PennHIP certifications. Degenerative myelopathy, bloat, and certain allergies also appear in the breed. Selecting a puppy from a reputable breeder who prioritizes health, temperament, and working ability over flashy looks is the single most important decision you’ll make. A poorly bred German Shepherd with weak nerves is a tragedy waiting to happen, no matter how much love and training you provide.

Is a German Shepherd Right for You?

If you’re looking for a dog that will passively lie around, greet all strangers with joy, and be satisfied with a casual stroll, the German Shepherd is not your breed. But if your idea of a canine partner is a devoted shadow that challenges your mind, matches your active lifestyle, and offers a love that is protective and deep and fiercely personal, then the GSD might just be the heart-dog of a lifetime.

The same qualities that make them indispensable to law enforcement and the military intelligence, courage, trainability, and an unbreakable bond with their handler are the very qualities they bring into a home. They ask for your time, your leadership, and your heart. In return, they give you a loyalty that is legendary and a friendship that, behind closed doors, is gentle, humorous, and achingly tender. For those ready to embrace the commitment, the German Shepherd doesn’t just become a pet; it becomes family.