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