What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic Violence is not just physical. It can also include emotional and sexual abuse. It keeps you isolated and afraid, and makes you feel trapped and powerless.

Warning Signs:

Does your Partner …
 
Act jealously or possessively?
Be bossy or give you orders?
Threaten to hurt you?
Verbally abuse you (put you down, call you names)?
Criticize you, humiliate or degrade you?
Make all the decisions in the relationship?
Have a violent temper, have weapons, have a violent history?
Not let you have friends of the opposite sex?
Pressure you for sex?
Constantly want to be with you and know where you are at all times?
Have a history of bad relationships and blames the "ex"?
Friends and Family have warned you about them?
You are afraid of them?

If so, you may be in danger of experiencing abuse within the relationship.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!       You can get help.

Cycle of Abuse

Lenore Walker presented the model of a "Cycle of Violence" which consists of three basic phases: -

Honeymoon Phase
Characterized by affection, apology, apparent end of violence.
 
Tension Building Phase
Characterized by poor communication, tension, fear of causing outbursts.
 
Acting-out Phase
Characterized by outbursts of violent, abusive incidents.

Although it is easy to see the outbursts of the Acting-out Phase as abuse, even the more pleasant behaviors of the Honeymoon Phase serve to perpetuate the abuse.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!       You can get help.