Dennis Rodman Charged with Domestic Violence Against Girlfriend Gina Peterson

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has made the headlines again, but this time it isn't for the way he was playing on the court. It was for how he played with his girlfriend Gina Peterson.

Dennis Rodman was charged on Wednesday with spousal battery, brandishing a deadly weapon, and one count of dissuading a witness. Rodman's charges are all misdemeanors. Rodman's spokesman, Darren Price, had said that Rodman simply had too much to drink when he got into the altercation with Peterson, as reported by the Associated Press.

Being in a violent relationship can become deadly and quick. I was the victim of a violent relationship before I met my husband. The relationship that I was in turned sour after only a year of being with this guy. It is sad for me to think that Rodman's spokesman would blame this all on drinking; this was also my former partners excuse.

There are ways that you can avoid a domestic relationship so that maybe you won't end up like Gina Peterson or me.

Know the dangers when you see them and then get out as quickly as possible. The dangers usually start off by the person yelling often, becoming jealous easily, isolating you, or even acting like they are going to hit you but doesn't actually do this.

Avoid angering this person unless it puts you at more risk. For most people there is a trigger that causes them to become angry. Get to know what triggers this person and then avoid these triggers. For others anger is just a way that they are and they do not have to have a trigger to make them become violent. If this person seems to become angry for no apparent reason, it may be time for you to get out of the relationship for good.

Once you get out, don't look back. Ending a relationship with a violent person may mean that you will need to get a protective order to keep this person away. If you get out of the relationship don't assume that once they have time to cool off that they will be better. People can change but most often a violent person does not change their behavior towards the person that they most often afflict pain upon.