RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

 

If you think  you are in a domestic violence relationship, take this self-assessment:

 

Does your partner:

Threaten you or your family or friends

Destroy your personal belongings or property that is important to you

Isolate you from friends or family

Make you feel guilty about your own decisions or choices

Intentionally humiliate or embarrass you

Physically attack you (shoving, hitting, choking or slapping)

Blame you for his or her behavior

Accuse you of cheating or illicit activities with no foundation

Force you to have sex

Withhold affection or approval to punish you

Call you names or insult you

Imply that you would be unable to survive without them

Set goals that you know  you will not be able to meet

 

If your partner  used these tactics in your relationship in order to manipulate or control you, he/she is committing acts of domestic abuse.  If he/she has not already been physically violent with you, it is very likely that it will escalate to that point.

 

Do you:

avoid certain topics of conversation for fear of angering him or her

Have the feeling that you are "walking on eggshells" waiting for the next time your partner will lash out

Believe that you can't do anything right no matter how hard you try

Sometimes feel that you are losing your mind or are going crazy

 

If you recognize any of these signs in your relationship find a friend or relative you feel you can trust to confide in.  They may encourage you to leave immediately and that's alright because they are only speaking out of concern for your safety.  Don't pull away.  Someone to confide in can prove to be helpful in order for you to get through it.

 

However you should be putting together an escape plan for the future.