According to reports, one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. This emotional, psychological, physical or sexual abuse can occur in lesbian and gay relationships, and in a few cases men are abused by female partners. Nonetheless, more than 90 percent of all domestic violence assaults happen when a man abuses a woman.

Domestic violence is a behavior people use to control someone else. It takes many different forms including:

• Threats
• Name-calling
• Isolation
• Withholding of money
• Actual or threatened physical harm
• Sexual assault
• And more

Sometimes, people in these relationships think their partner’s abusive behavior is normal. Below are some questions you should ask yourself to determine if you are being abused.

• Does your partner constantly criticize you?
• Is your partner over-protective?
• Does your partner become extremely jealous?
• Does your partner threaten to hurt you?
• Does your partner prevent you from seeing family or friends?
• Does your partner loose his/her temper often?
• Does your partner destroy personal property or throw things around?
• Does your partner deny you from having access to things like bank accounts, credit cards, or the car?
• Does your partner use intimidation or manipulation to control you?
• Does your partner hit, punch, slap, kick, shove, choke or bite you?
• Does your partner prevent you from going where you want to?
• Does your partner try to control your friends?
• Does your partner make you have sex when you don’t want to?
• Does your partner humiliate or embarrass you in front of other people?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be a victim of domestic violence. Being abused is not your fault. Here is a list of organizations that can help you get out of your abusive relationship.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Toll free, confidential, 24 hrs. Translators available.
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3244 (TTY)

National Center for Victims of Crime and National Stalking Resource Center
M-F, 8:30 am- 8:30 pm EST
1-800- FYI-CALL ()

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
National 24-hour resource.
or 1-866-331-8453 (TTY)

If you think you’re in an abusive relationship, you don’t have to suffer alone. Call one of the domestic violence help lines and TAKE THE PLEDGE and get support from others that may also be in abusive relationships.