Article: There are often local resources to help victims of abuse. If you are not sure where to start or if you just want to talk to someone about whether your relationship is abusive, try one of the following resources. Be careful using your own home computer or your cellular phone, as your page visits and phone calls may be stored in the history or call log. In the US: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233(SAFE) Men in the US can contact The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women In the UK: Women's Aid 0808 2000 247 Men in the UK can contact ManKind Initiative In Australia: 1800Respect 1800 737 732 Men in Australia can contact One in Three Worldwide: The International Directory of Domestic Violence Agencies If you are the target of physical violence from your partner, you are in an abusive relationship, period. However, abuse can take many other forms that are more difficult to detect and common for victims to justify. Your partner doesn't need to raise a hand against you to consider it abuse. Physical abuse means hitting, pushing, or any other form of physical assault on your person. There's no excuse for physical assault, even once, and physical abuse is cause for criminal charges and immediate termination of the relationship. Emotional abuse can include humiliation, belittling, controlling behavior, threats, intimidation, and degradation. If your partner continually makes you feel worthless, pathetic, or terrible, you are probably in an abusive situation. Financial abuse occurs when an abuser takes complete control over you by rigidly controlling your finances to the point that you lose personal freedom. This can take on many forms, including limiting your ability to work, taking money that you earn, or not allowing you access to shared bank accounts. Sexual abuse is, unfortunately, a common part of abusive relationships. Just because you've consented to sex before doesn't mean you've consented to sex at all times, nor should being in a relationship for a certain length of time mean that sex is "required." If you feel that you are being pressured into sex that is unwanted, unsafe, or degrading, you are being abused.Another element of sexual abuse is a man impregnating a woman without her consent or forcing her to terminate a pregnancy against her will. It is very common for abusers to lead victims to believe that the abuse is the victims' fault. Someone acting aggressive, violent, or manipulative towards you is never your fault. Know that your relationship can still be abusive, even if: Your partner has never hit you. Emotional or verbal abuse is still abuse. The abuse doesn't seem as bad as other instances of abuse you've heard about. Physical violence has only happened once or twice. Any physical violence is a sign that more is possible. Signs of abuse stopped when you became passive, stopped arguing, or refrained from expressing your own thoughts or opinions. If you eventually face your abuser in court, hard evidence can help you get a restraining order, win a custody battle, or otherwise ensure that this sort of abuse will never happen again. If you can, try to record some audio of your abuser intimidating or threatening you. This can do a lot in helping to establish the character of your abuser, who will likely be on best behavior in court. Take photographs of physical abuse. Always immediately report physical abuse to the authorities and seek immediate medical attention. The medical records and police report will provide thorough documentation of the abuse. You are not responsible for the actions of your partner, regardless of what the abuser says. You don't "deserve" to be abused, you didn't do anything to cause the abuse, and you deserve to live a happy life free of violence. The thought and behavior patterns that lead the abuser to commit abuse are caused by deep-seated emotional and psychological problems, not your actions. Unfortunately, without professional help, these issues are unlikely to resolve themselves.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Get help. Recognize abuse. Do not excuse or dismiss abusive behavior. Document the abuse. Remember that abuse is not your fault.