WHAT IS ABUSE?
Abuse is about control. It is a pattern. Anyone can be subject to physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse. Physical abuse is a pattern of physical assaults, threats or restraints. It is violence used to control another person. It may include shoving, slapping, biting, being kicked, choked, or any act of violence. Verbal abuse may include threats, slander, and/or name calling. Sexual abuse may include unwanted touching, assaulting body parts, forcing a person to have sex against their will or with other people. Economic abuse is controlling another person by restricting economic resources. Also, It may include preventing someone from getting a job, taking their money and controlling access to money. Emotional abuse may include being made to feel that you are not a worthwhile person, intimidation, name calling, being ignored, restricted to the home and isolated from friends, family and other people.
IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED
Leave the scene immediately, go to a safe place.
Call the police—911.
Seek medical assistance if needed.
Call our Hotline: (717) 299-1249 (Collect calls accepted)
Consider all available options!
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
For more information on Domestic Violence please click on the links below.
http://www.ncadv.org/learn/Statistics_115.html 2005 Domestic Violence Statistics
http://www.pcadv.org Pennsylvania
Coalition Against Domestic Violence Provides information, help and resources for victims of domestic violence.
http://www.usda.gov/da/shmd/aware.htm Domestic Violence Awareness Handbook [U.S. Department of Agriculture Safety, Health and Employee Welfare Division]
http://www.silcom.com/~paladin/madv/dvagencies.html/Contains state-wise listing of domestic abuse centers and
organizations.
http://www.ndvh.org/index.php/National Domestic Violence Hotline
http://home.cybergrrl.com/dv/stats.html/Statistical resources on Domestic Violence and its relationship to pregnancy, children, teen relationships, and elder abuse.
http://community.palouse.net/ATVP/Articles/DomesticViolence.html
Abuse also occurs in gay and lesbian relationships. The key to abuse is that one partner exerts control over the other. Acts of domestic violence fall into one or more of the following categories