IS THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

My peeps, just got this mail from a female reader and she is asking a serious 'exam' question. With her permission, I have decided to post it and hear your views on her situation.

Dear NHW,

I have been following your posts and must say it is fast becoming addictive for me. You have built so much confidence in me and somehow opened my eyes to a lot of things in my marriage.

I am writing concerning a previous post of yours where you talked about Domestic Violence. I have been married for close to 3 years now but no child yet (waiting on the Lord). I am now questioning the way my husband plays with me.

We or should I say I am the playful type. Before we got married, when playing, me and my husband, we would throw pillows at ourselves and sometimes chase each other round the house. And when he catches me, he would tickle me and slap my face gently, on both cheeks until I beg him to stop.

This kind of play continued until we got married and I noticed that the play has graduated to something else! But despite the change, I will still continue playing along. When he chases me round the house and manages to catch me, he would lift me up and throw me hard on the bed, sometime,  even pushing me so hard against the wall. I would beg him to stop that I am not interested anymore but instead, he will pull my hair and turn me viciously hard against him. By then I would be in pain, begging him to stop. He wouldn't.  He will then sometimes twist my arm so hard until I cried.  I won't lie, I am always scared during this time.

The last one he did, landed me in LUTH. Up till now, I can't really say what happened or how it did. I remember we were playing as usual and then I saw myself outside our one-storey building. I fractured my arms, a leg and hip. He stayed with me through out my hospital admission begging and crying for forgiveness.

After I was discharged,  my parents took me back to their house, saying that our relationship was not a healthy or normal one.

Please, NHW, for my own peace of mind and to know if I should take him back, would you call this his behaviour Domestic Violence?  I need to know so that I don't end up like other women who have died in their marriages.

*Hian, O! I don't know what to answer my love. It's not normal sha. You and him need to see a psychologist fast. And u need prayers too. Some people might think both of you are possessed! *

Over to you my honourable readers...