Domestic Violence can be experienced in one or more of the following behaviors: 

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional/ Psychological Abuse
• Economic Abuse
• Threats
• Stalking/ Cyber Stalking

Each victim’s experience will be unique and may take place during different time frames.  The following are signs of abusive behavior that may be experienced. 

Intimidation/ Threats

• Threatening harm to someone or their friends/family.
• Threatening to lie to law enforcement.
• Threatening to commit suicide.
• Using legal status and immigration as an intimidation factor.

Sexual Abuse

• Forcing sexual acts through manipulation or threats.

Economic Abuse

• Preventing someone from getting or keeping a job.
• Limiting access to income.

Isolation

• Controlling what someone does or who they see.
• Damaging relationships with family and friends.

Emotional/ Psychological Abuse

• Attacking self-worth, name calling, criticism and humiliation.
• Being possessive and jealous.
• Making someone feel like they are going crazy.

Using Children or Pets

• Using children as a means of guilt and/or controlling mechanism.
• Threating to take children away or to call human services.
• Sabotaging birth control or forcing pregnancies.
• Abusing or mistreating pets when this behavior is used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed against the victim

Religious/Cultural

• One’s cultural/religious community may be very small. This can stop victims from seeking help due to fear of isolation or shame.  
• Preventing victim from practicing religion, or forcing victim to act against religious beliefs.   
• Abusers may use religious examples to excuse abusive behaviors.
• Abusers may isolate victim from being around other religious/ cultural members to prevent them from seeking help.