Recognize abuse 

Domestic violence is when one person chooses to use violence – physical, sexual, emotional or financial – to gain and maintain power and control over his or her partner. How can you recognize abuse?  Here are some of the common signs:

​

• S/he seems afraid of her or his partner or is always very anxious to please him or her.

• S/he has stopped seeing friends or family or cuts phone conversations short when the partner is in the room.

• S/he experiences criticisms or humiliation in front of other people because of things the partner says or does.

• S/he says her partner pressures or forces sexual things.

• S/he is ordered around or the partner makes all the decisions (for example, the partner controls all the money or tells her/him who she can see and what s/he can do).

• S/he often talks about her partner’s jealousy, bad temper or possessiveness.

• S/he has become anxious or depressed, has lost confidence or is unusually quiet.

• S/he has physical injuries (bruises, broken bones, sprains, cuts, etc.). She may give unlikely explanations for physical injuries.

• Her or his children seem afraid of the partner, have behavior problems or are very withdrawn or anxious.

• S/he is reluctant to leave her or his children with her partner.

• After s/he has left the relationship, her partner is constantly calling, harassing, following, coming over or waiting outside.

​

Have questions about domestic violence? Please call our 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline: (904) 354-3114.

​

​