Silent Stalking

This is National Stalker Awareness month. Statistics have shown that most stalkers are people that have had some sort of emotional connection to the person they are stalking such as a spouse, partner, ex-lover or acquaintance, even a family member. Stalking is a crime that affects over one million women and close to four hundred thousand men each year in the U.S. alone. Many of the victims are even harassed at their workplace.

Have you ever noticed co-workers wearing long sleeved shirts when it is too warm to be wearing them, or any other strange signs? There are many women that are stuck in situations where they feel trapped. They have been threatened that if they told anyone, they would be harmed even more.

Sometimes being a friend to them can help them realized that life is too short to be living the way that they are living. Work has been a safe haven for many emotionally and physically abused women.

There is a group named “Safe Horizon” that teaches companies how to recognize the effects of domestic violence. They also provide domestic violence hotline phone numbers on signs and posters to be displayed in various places around the workplace.

It’s unfortunate that for many, work is a place that they can have some inner peace. As a co-worker or associate, it’s good to talk to others for their well being. It’s good to listen and be a shoulder to lean on. If you feel someone is having hard times at home, perhaps being harassed and intimidated, maybe you could talk to them about other options. You can also let them know that they should have some type of inconspicuous self defense item with them at all times so that if they were in grave physical danger, they can get away once and for all! A pepper spray ring, or a pepper pen, and Lipstick Pepper Sprays are all great concealable tools of protection. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with them, you could always mention this to a supervisor. If they are not able to purchase one of these without their aggressor knowing, perhaps you can do them a favor. You just might save their life!