Trauma is hard to comprehend, especially that of others.

Domestic violence is one of those things people sometimes don't like to think about, but it's something we desperately need to address.

When people such as Carol Jacobsen are able to overcome their own trauma and dedicate time to helping others facing the same issues, it gives us a great deal of respect and hope for humanity. At 17, Jacobsen was pregnant — and physically abused by her new husband.

Now she works helping other women in similar situations, along with many other volunteers, for the Michigan Battered Women's Clemency Project advocacy group.

The world could use more people living for others before themselves.

It seems not a lot of people recognize the permeation of abusive relationships. Hoping it will all go away, we try to blind ourselves to the facts.

Jacobsen's program, as well as programs such as MSU Safe Place, a campus domestic violence shelter and support group, reach-out to victims in abusive situations which are far too prevalent in modern society. If more people cared enough to volunteer for these programs, and used their experience to help others recognize abusive behavior, perhaps domestic violence wouldn't happen as frequently as it does.

Unfortunately, abuse is too common. According to MSU Safe Place research, domestic violence — including physical, sexual and mental abuse — affects somewhere between 25 and 35 percent of any given community, including MSU.

Jacobsen's group estimates 1 million women will suffer non-fatal violence from a spouse each year. Fifteen hundred will be killed by their assailant.

The Clemency Project is currently working to free 20 battered women in prison for crimes against their abusers. According to the group's statistics, as many as 90 percent of women in prison for killing men were battered by those men.

Any abuse received is unjust, and abusers should receive punishment for their crimes. Situations such as these must be determined on a case-by-case basis, but legally there is a fine line between self-defense and retaliation.

There are options for people in domestic abuse situations, and we encourage anyone who thinks they're in an abusive relationship to use them.

Resources, such as the MSU Safe Place and the Clemency Project, should help to make sure that potential victims understand what makes a relationship abusive.

It's one more step in protecting victims from domestic abuse.