Abuse is not an Excuse!

How much do you know about domestic abuse?
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline:

"Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels."

The following are considered classic symptoms of an abusive relationship:

1) Jealousy-- a sign some people look at as love, but actually has its roots in possessiveness and mistrust.

2) Controlling behavior-- wanting to know who you've been with, what you've been doing etc, and arranging schedules and activities to have control over the other person.

3) Verbal abuse-- especially degrading outbursts or comments that make a person feel less than.

4) Threats-- of violence, of doing harm to a person, their loved ones or their pets.

5) Isolation-- Manipulating someone in order to keep them isolated from family and friends.

According to experts at the National Domestic Abuse Center, isolation is an effective tool that gives the abuser more control and weakens the other person by keeping them separated from people who could give them emotional and other support.

For more information including statistics and what you can do, visit
http://www.ndvh.org.