Signs of Abuse

Physical Abuse

  • Pushed or shoved you
  • Restrained you from leaving
  • Slapped or bit you
  • Kicked, choked, hit, or punched you
  • Locked you out of the house
  • Abandoned you in a dangerous place
  • Refused to help you when you were sick, injured, or pregnant
  • Subjected you to reckless driving
  • Forced you off the road or kept you from driving
  • Threatened or hurt you with a weapon

Sexual Abuse

  • Told anti-women jokes or made demeaning remarks about women
  • Treated women as sex objects
  • Been jealously angry, assuming you would have sex with another
  • Insisted you dress in a more sexual way than you wanted
  • Minimized the importance of your feelings about sex
  • Criticized your sexuality
  • Insisted on unwanted and uncomfortable touching
  • Raped you
  • Withheld sex or affection
  • Called you derogatory sexual names like "Whore" or "Frigid"
  • Publicly showed sexual interest in other people
  • Had affairs with others after agreeing to a monogamous relationship
  • Forced you to have unwanted sex with others or forced you to watch others
  • Forced particular unwanted sexual acts
  • Forced sex after physical violence
  • Forced sex when you were sick or it was dangerous to your health
  • Forced sex for the purpose of hurting you with objects or weapons
  • Committed sadistic sexual acts

Emotional & Verbal Abuse

  • Ignored your feelings
  • Ridiculed or insulted women as a group
  • Ridiculed or insulted your most valued beliefs, your religion, race or heritage
  • Withheld approval, appreciation, or affection as punishment
  • Continually criticized you, called you names, shouted at you
  • Insulted or drove away your friends or family
  • Humiliated you in public or private
  • Refused to socialize with you
  • Kept you from working, controlled your money or made all decisions
  • Refused to work or share money
  • Took car keys or money away
  • Regularly threatened to leave or told you to leave
  • Threatened to kidnap the children if you left
  • Abused pets to hurt you
  • Told you about affairs in which the abuser has been engaged
  • Harassed you about affairs the abuser imagined you were having
  • Manipulated you with lies and contradictions

Stalking & Cyberstalking

  • Followed you
  • Quizzed you about where you have been, whom you were with, etc.
  • Listened to or monitored your phone calls
  • Called you at work or friends' homes
  • Sent threatening or obscene email to locate or harass you
  • Sent you a multitude of junk email, spamming you
  • Harassed you via live chat or flaming (online verbal abuse)
  • Sent you electronic viruses
  • Sent you unsolicited emails
  • Traced your computer and internet activity
  • Stole your electronic/internet identity
  • Posted improper or enticing information on message boards & guest books using your name, phone number, or email address, resulting in subsequent responses being sent to you