What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Some forms of domestic violence are:

• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Digital Abuse
• Financial Abuse

​Domestic violence can happen to anyone, from any background. It doesn’t discriminate based on age, race, sexual orientation, income, education, ability, or gender—anyone can suffer from abuse, at any time.

If you think your interactions with your partner might be abusive, click the link below to take a short quiz. The questions and your answers might help you determine if you need to seek help for an abusive relationship.

Relationship Assessment

I'm in an abusive relationship.
What should I do?

First and foremost, know that you are not alone and that the abuse is not your fault. If you are experiencing abuse, harassment, or harm from your partner, or think that you might be, help is available.

​You can get connected with an advocate who can support, refer, and provide you with available services/resources. Abusive partners are usually very good at isolating their partner from family and friends. As a result, victims may feel ashamed and alone and believe that no one will understand. Many survivors have described feeling as if they didn’t know who they were anymore. This makes it even more difficult to survive the abuse, to sort through feelings, and to make decisions that will be best for you and your children.

Self Care

Physical Self Care
After a trauma, it’s important to keep your body healthy and strong. You may be healing from injuries or feeling emotionally drained. Good physical health can support you through this time. Think about a time when you felt physically healthy, and ask yourself these questions:

• How were you sleeping? Did you have a sleep ritual or nap pattern that made you feel more rested?
• What types of food were you eating? What meals made you feel healthy and strong?
  
• What types of exercise did you enjoy? Were there any particular activities that made you feel more energized?
  
• Did you perform certain routines? Were there activities you did to start the day off right or wind down at the end of the day?
  

Emotional Self Care
Emotional self care means different things to different people. The key to emotional self care is being in tune with yourself. Think about a time when you felt balanced and grounded, and ask yourself these questions:

• What fun or leisure activities did you enjoy?
• Did you write down your thoughts in a journal or personal notebook?
  
• Were meditation or relaxation activities a part of your regular schedule?
  
• What inspirational words were you reading?
  
• Who did you spend time with? Was there someone, or a group of people, that you felt safe and supported around?
  
• Where did you spend your time? Was there a special place where you felt comfortable and grounded?
  

Domestic Violence Info Booklet Download

Power and Control Wheel Download