October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity to understand more about this tragic issue that affects more than 10 million men and women across the country each year.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been the victim of domestic violence during their lifetime.
At the center of domestic violence is the issue of control. The abuser is intent on gaining and maintaining power over their partner through fear and intimidation and he or she may achieve this through various tactics. Learn more about signs that could indicate someone may be a victim of domestic violence below.
Know the signs of abuse and get help
If you recognize any of the behaviors below, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Below is a list of possible signs of abuse. You may be in an abusive relationship if your partner engages in the following:
- Emotional abuse/threats: Yelling, ridiculing you, humiliating you in front of others; controlling and monitoring what you do all the time; preventing or discouraging you from seeing friends or family; controlling how you spend your money and/or your use of needed medications; threatening to hurt you or your children or pets, or cause serious problems for you
- Physical abuse: Hitting, shoving, kicking, slapping, biting or throwing things; destroying your property or things you care about
- Sexual abuse: Forcing you to have sex against your will or do something sexual that you don’t want to do
- Threatening you at work: Harassing phone calls, texts or emails; stalking in the parking lot, following you, or other threatening behavior; preventing or discouraging you from going to work or school.
Check out additional resources from Health Advocate or as a reminder, you and your household members can also give the GW EAP a call for free, confidential support and referrals for 24/7 in-the-moment support.
