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Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help

Domestic violence is a serious threat for many women. Know the signs of an abusive relationship and how to leave a dangerous situation.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your partner apologizes and says the hurtful behavior won't happen again — but you fear it will. At times you wonder whether you're imagining the abuse, yet the emotional or physical pain you feel is real. If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing domestic violence.

Recognize domestic violence

Domestic violence — also called domestic abuse, battering or intimate partner violence — occurs between people in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence can take many forms, including emotional, sexual and physical abuse and threats of abuse. Men are sometimes abused by partners, but domestic violence is most often directed toward women. Domestic violence can happen in heterosexual or same sex relationships.

It might not be easy to identify domestic violence at first. While some relationships are clearly abusive from the outset, abuse often starts subtly and gets worse over time. You might be experiencing domestic violence if you're in a relationship with someone who:

  • Calls you names, insults you or puts you down
  • Prevents you from going to work or school
  • Stops you from seeing family members or friends
  • Tries to control how you spend money, where you go, what medicines you take or what you wear
  • Acts jealous or possessive or constantly accuses you of being unfaithful
  • Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs
  • Threatens you with violence or a weapon
  • Hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, chokes or otherwise hurts you, your children or your pets
  • Forces you to have sex or engage in sexual acts against your will
  • Blames you for his or her violent behavior or tells you that you deserve it
  • Portrays the violence as mutual and consensual

If you're lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you might also be experiencing domestic violence if you're in a relationship with someone who:

  • Threatens to tell friends, family, colleagues or community members your sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Tells you that authorities won't help a lesbian, bisexual or transgender person
  • Tells you that leaving the relationship means you're admitting that lesbian, bisexual or transgender relationships are deviant
  • Says women can't be violent
  • Justifies abuse by telling you that you're not "really" lesbian, bisexual or transgender

Pregnancy, children and domestic violence

Sometimes domestic violence begins — or increases — during pregnancy. During this perilous time, your health and the baby's health are at risk. The danger continues after the baby is born. Even if your child isn't abused, simply witnessing domestic violence can be harmful. Children who grow up in abusive homes are more likely to be abused and have behavioral problems than are other children. As adults, they're more likely to become abusers or think abuse is a normal part of a relationship. You might worry that seeking help will further endanger you and your child or that it might break up your family, but it's the best way to protect your child — and yourself.

Break the cycle

If you're in an abusive situation, you might recognize this pattern:

  • Your abuser threatens violence.
  • Your abuser strikes.
  • Your abuser apologizes, promises to change and offers gifts.
  • The cycle repeats itself.

Typically the violence becomes more frequent and severe over time.

The longer you stay in an abusive relationship, the greater the toll on your self-esteem. You might become depressed and anxious. You might begin to doubt your ability to take care of yourself or wonder if the abuse is your fault. You might feel helpless or paralyzed. If you're an older woman who has health problems, you might feel dependent upon an abusive partner. If you're in a same sex relationship, you might be less likely to seek help after an assault if you don't want to disclose your sexual orientation. If you've been sexually assaulted by another woman, you might also fear that you won't be believed. Still, the only way to break the cycle of domestic violence is to take action — and the sooner the better.

Start by telling someone about the abuse, whether it's a friend, loved one, health care provider or other close contact. At first, you might find it hard to talk about the abuse. But you'll also likely feel relief and receive much-needed support.

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References
  1. Understanding intimate partner violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/ipv_factsheet.pdf. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  2. Violence against women: What is abuse? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/signs/. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  3. Safety planning list. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/planning/safetyplanninglist.pdf. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  4. Violence against women: Domestic and intimate partner violence. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/types/domestic.cfm. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  5. Violence against women: Court order of protection. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/prevent/civil.cfm. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  6. Domestic violence. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp083.cfm. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
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  9. Raising children to resist violence: What you can do. American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resist-violence.aspx. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  10. AAMFT consumer update: Domestic violence. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. http://www.aamft.org/imis15/Content/Consumer_Updates/Domestic_Violence.aspx. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  11. Internet safety. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. http://www.ncadv.org/protectyourself/InternetSafety_121.html. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  12. Southworth C, et al. Intimate partner violence, technology and stalking. Violence Against Women. 2007;13:842.
  13. Torpy JM. Intimate partner violence. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300:754.
  14. Pitt EL, et al. Violence and trauma: Recognitions, recovery, and prevention. In: Makadon HJ, et al. The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health. Philadelphia, Pa.: American College of Physicians; 2008:253.
  15. Issues: Domestic violence. National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. http://www.ncavp.org/issues/DomesticViolence.aspx. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
  16. Bonomi AE, et al. Medical and psychosocial diagnoses in women with a history of intimate partner violence. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009;169:1692.
  17. Sillman JS. Diagnosing, screening, and counseling for domestic violence. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 21, 2011.
WO00044 May 21, 2011

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