What is Abuse?

Sometimes it is hard and confusing to admit that you are in an abusive relationship, or to find a way out. There are clear signs to help you know if you are being abused. If the person you love or live with does any of these things to you, it's time to get help:

• monitors what you're doing all the time

• criticizes you for little things

• constantly accuses you of being unfaithful

• prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family, or going to work or school

• gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs

• controls how you spend your money

• controls your use of needed medicines

• humiliates you in front of others

• destroys your property or things that you care about

• threatens to hurt you, the children, or pets, or does hurt you (by hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, punching, slapping, kicking, or biting)

• uses or threatens to use a weapon against you

• forces you to have sex against your will

• blames you for his or her violent outbursts

Click the Awareness banner below to find help in your location:
Organizations are listed by state.
Click any organization name for additional program and contact information.
Click on any state's abbreviation to jump to its listings:

If you do not find your state in this list, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) for assistance in locating programs in your area. You can reach the NDVH at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)