Abuse

Abuse

According to the Mayo Clinic:

“Domestic violence — also called domestic abuse, battering or intimate partner violence — occurs between people in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence can take many forms, including emotional, sexual and physical abuse and threats of abuse. Men are sometimes abused by partners, but domestic violence is most often directed toward women. Domestic violence can happen in heterosexual or same sex relationships.

It might not be easy to identify domestic violence at first. While some relationships are clearly abusive from the outset, abuse often starts subtly and gets worse over time. You might be experiencing domestic violence if you’re in a relationship with someone who:

  • * Calls you names, insults you or puts you down
  • * Prevents you from going to work or school
  • * Stops you from seeing family members or friends
  • * Tries to control how you spend money, where you go, what medicines you take or what you wear
  • * Acts jealous or possessive or constantly accuses you of being unfaithful
  • * Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs
  • * Threatens you with violence or a weapon
  • * Hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, chokes or otherwise hurts you, your children or your pets
  • * Forces you to have sex or engage in sexual acts against your will
  • * Blames you for his or her violent behavior or tells you that you deserve it
  • * Portrays the violence as mutual and consensual”