Tip Sheets

Am I Being Abused?

Does your partner tell you what to do? Has you partner threatened you with physical harm? Does your partner call you names or tell you that you are worthless?

One in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.¹ Domestic violence can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, economic background, religious beliefs, marital status, or sexual preference. Abusive behaviors include verbal, emotional, sexual, physical, psychological, and economic abuse and typically get worse over time. Any behavior that intimidates, manipulates, humiliates, isolates, frightens, terrorizes, coerces, threatens, blames, hurts, injures, or wounds someone is abuse. Domestic violence is dangerous and can be fatal. It affects the entire community and should not be considered a private family matter.

What Can I Do?

It’s up to you to decide what is best for you. Domestic violence is not okay and you are not alone. If you decide you need help, you may wish to:

• Call 911, if you have an emergency.

• Talk with someone you trust.

• Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1–800–799–SAFE (1–800–799–7233) for assistance and to learn about resources in your area.

• Create a safety plan that addresses you and your family’s situation.

• Learn your rights.

For help locating a domestic violence program in your area, please visit these Web sites:

• Online Directory of Crime Victim Services

• National Domestic Violence Hotline

• State Domestic Violence Coalitions

For information about creating a safety plan, please visit these Web sites:

• Safety Plan Guidelines

• Creating a Safety Plan

For information about domestic violence laws in your state, please visit these Web sites:

• WomensLaw

• VictimLaw

1. Tjaden, Patricia & Thoennes, Nancy, “Extent, Nature and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey”, available at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/181867.pdf