About Domestic Violence
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence (DV), also referred to as Domestic Abuse or Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), occurs when one person in a relationship systematically attempts to gain power and control over the other. Abuse can involve emotional and psychological control, financial abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, abuse to children, and stalking in order to subtly intimidate or seriously injure their partner.
An abuser arouses fear and forces their partner to behave in ways they do not want and the abuse typically worsens over time. Domestic violence occurs between current or former partners of all gender identities and sexual orientations, in all socioeconomic classes, racial and ethnic groups, age groups, religious affiliations, and occupational or educational backgrounds.
Signs of Domestic Violence
Are you and your children safe? If you answered “yes” to several of these questions below, your relationship may not be safe. If you need help deciding, call us now on our confidential 24-hour hotline: (828) 254-0516
The Person I’m With…
- Is not very supportive of things that I do and discourages me from trying new things.
- Does not like to listen when I have something on my mind.
- Does not talk to me when they’re unhappy with something in the relationship.
- Is not willing to compromise.
- Does not understand that we have separate interests and can spend time apart.
- Is mean or rude to my friends.
- Criticizes or distracts me when I’m doing things that don’t involve them.
- Gets extremely jealous or possessive.
- Accuses me of flirting or cheating when I’m not.
- Constantly checks up on me or makes me check in.
- Breaks or throws things when we fight.
- Threatens to destroy my things.
- Tries to control what I do, who I see, what I wear, how I look or who I talk to.
- Makes me feel nervous or like I’m “walking on eggshells.”
- Blames me for problems, puts me down, calls me names or criticizes me.
- Makes me feel like no one else would want me.
- Threatens to hurt themselves, me, my friends, pets or family.
- Grabs, pushes, shoves, chokes, punches, or slaps me, holds me down, throws things or hurts me in some way.
- Yells, screams or humiliates me in front of other people.
- Pressures or forces me into having sex or going farther than I want to.
Adapted from loveisrespect.org. If you have any doubts about your safety, please instead call us at: (828) 254-0516