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You May Become a Victim of Abuse if you...
- Feel you cannot live without him
- Stop seeing friends or family members, or give up activities you enjoy because he doesn't like them
- Feel like you have to walk on "eggshells" to keep him from getting angry
- Feel afraid to tell him your worries and feelings about the relationship
- Stop expressing opinions if he doesn't agree with them
- Feel that you are the only one who can help him and that you should try to change him
- Stay because you feel that he will kill himself if you leave
- Believe that his jealousy is a sign of love
- Believe the critical things that are said to make you feel bad about yourself
- Believe that there is something wrong with you if you don't enjoy sexual things he makes you do
- Remain silent out of fear that you will not be heard or believed
- Feel that you cannot tell anyone about what he is doing to you
- Feel that no one will take you seriously or believe you
YOUR PARTNER MAY BE ABUSIVE IF...
- You are not allowed to be friends with others...jealousy is evident
- You are criticized for what you wear and what you do
- Activities like driving fast or doing reckless things are used to scare you
- You must explain where you are and who you are with at all times
- Others are told about things you did or said that embarrass you or make you feel stupid
- You get hurt or scared when things get "carried away" during horseplay
- You are held down until you give in or feel humiliated
- Anger is expressed about trivial things-like being late for a date or wearing the "wrong" clothes
- Your friends or family are criticized and you are asked to stop seeing them
- Depression or withdrawal are evident but feelings will not be discussed
- Modeling has come from an abusive home
- Anger or violence is heightened due to the use of alcohol or drugs
- You are forced to do anything sexually that you don't feel ready to do-either by physical force or by put-downs, threats to leave or other emotional pressures
- You are continually told that you are stupid, lazy, fat, ugly, a "slut", and so on
- Rigid beliefs about what men and women should be and do are held
- Degrading jokes about women are made or flirting with others is done to scare or upset you
- Threats are made to hit you, hurt your friends or pets, or commit suicide if you don't comply
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