Violence/Abuse
Signs of domestic violence
Below we’ve provided some of the key signs that domestic violence is happening – either to you or to a relative or friend. A "yes" answer to any of these questions means that your or your relative or friend may be in an abusive relationship and should get help immediately. It is important to understand that an abusive partner chooses to be violent and it is not the victim's fault, despite what the abuser might say. Abusers can control themselves if they want to, as they do with coworkers, bosses and friends. Also remember that abuse usually becomes worse over time.
Please tell your physician and encourage family and friends to do the same. Your physician can help.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Have you ever been physically hurt, such as kicked, pushed or punched, by your partner or ex-partner?
- Has your partner ever used the threat of hurting you to get you to do something?
- Has your partner tried to keep you from seeing your family, going to school, or doing other things that are important to you?
- Do you feel like you are being controlled or isolated by your partner?
- Have you ever been forced by your partner to have sex when you did not want to?
- Has your partner ever insisted on having unsafe sex?
- Is your partner very jealous and always questioning whether you are faithful?
- Does your partner regularly blame you for things that you could not control or insult you?
- Are you ever afraid of your partner or of going home? Does he/she make you feel unsafe?
Signs of domestic violence that you might see in a relative or friend:
- Claiming to be accident-prone
- Injuries that could not be caused by accident, or do not match the story of what happened to cause them.
- Injuries on many different areas of the body, especially areas that are less likely to get hurt, such as the face, throat, neck, chest, abdomen, or genitals.
- Many injuries that happened at different times.
- Bruises, burns, or wounds that are shaped like objects such as teeth, hands, belts, a cigarette tip, or look like the injured person has a glove or sock on (from having a hand or foot placed in boiling water).
- Seeking medical help a lot.
- Waiting to or not seeking medical help for serious injuries.
- Depression
- Use of alcohol or drugs
- Suicide attempts
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, please place a confidential call to the
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) *** 1-800-787-3224 (TDD)
The most likely targets of violence: young, unmarried, separated or divorced women, and nonwhite women are the most frequent victims of sexual violence.
