What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is about one person getting and keeping power and control over another person in an intimate or family relationship. It is a pattern of abusive behavior where one person uses physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation and emotional, sexual or economic abuse to control and change the behavior of the other partner.  Domestic violence happens to people of all ages, ethnicities, religions, income levels and backgrounds.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Are you afraid of your partner?
2. Has your partner ever hurt or threatened to hurt you or someone you care about?
3. Does your partner force you to engage in sexual activities that make you uncomfortable?
4. Do you constantly worry about your partner’s moods and change your behavior to dealwith them?
5. Does your partner try to control where you go, what you do and who you see?
6. Does your partner constantly accuse you of having affairs?
7. Have you stopped seeing family or friends to avoid your partner’s jealousy or anger?
8. Does your partner control your finances?
9. Does he/she threaten to kill himself/herself if you leave?
10. Does your partner claim his/her temper is out of control due to alcohol, drugs or because he/she had an abusive childhood?

If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, you could be suffering from abuse. Remember you are not to blame and you need not face domestic violence alone.