If you or someone you know is dealing with any of the following situations, they’re up against domestic violence, as cited by the National Domestic Violence Hotline:
- Not being permitted to make your own choices, such as when to leave home, attend school, go to work, go to events, etc.
- Destruction of property, personal identification, or other personal effects
- Being pressured to use alcohol, drugs, or engage in sex acts when you don’t want to
- Threats to harm yourself, your family, your pets, or others whom you care about
- Use of weapons to control or intimidate you
- Blocking or discouraging you from maintaining healthy relationships with other people, such as friends, relatives, coworkers, etc.
- Intentionally shaming and belittling you, publicly humiliating you, telling you you’re worthless, unloveable, incapable of doing anything right
- Controlling your access to income, forcing you to work and taking your money, not allowing you to work, etc.
How to find help and escape
Domestic violence comes with an extremely high mortality rate, making it that much more important for individuals facing this abuse to seek help and get away from their abusers.
