Victims of Domestic Violence
Common Indicators
Physical Abuse
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Assaulting or threatening you with a weapon
- Holding, tying down, restraining your movement, or preventing you from leaving
- Inflicting bruises, welts, lacerations, punctures, fractures, burns, or scratches
- Injuring your pets
- Pushing, shoving, slapping, hitting, punching, or kicking
Sexual Abuse
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Accusing you of having sex with other men or flirting with them to get attention
- Attempting sexual activity with you when you are not fully conscious or are afraid to say no
- Calling you sexually degrading names
- Coercing you to have sex without protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases
- Forcing you to have sex or perform sexual acts against your will
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Physically hurting you during sex
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
- Constantly insulting or criticizing you or calling you names ("You're so stupid," "You can't do anything right")
- Driving fast or recklessly just to scare you and laughing at your fear
- Extreme jealousy or possessiveness ("I can't control my anger, when I think of you with another man")
- False accusations, blaming you for everything ("You are the reason we have no money")
- Ignoring or ridiculing your needs or wants
- Intimidation or humiliation (Displaying weapons or making you look stupid in front of others)
- Leaving you in a dangerous place or threatening to leave you in a dangerous place
- Lying or breaking promises, destroying your trust
- Physical or social isolation (not allowing you to go out alone, have friends, or choose your own friends)
- Refusing to help you when you're sick or injured
- Threatening to hurt you in any way
- Threatening to kill or injure your pets
- Threats of suicide ("I'll kill myself if you ever talk to another man")
- Using your children as leverage or threatening to hurt them
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