Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior designed to exert power and control over a person in an intimate relationship through use of intimidating, threatening, harmful, or harassing behavior. Domestic violence includes multiple forms of abuse: physical, sexual, and emotional or psychological.

The most current national studies on domestic violence suggest that 22-25% of all women will experience domestic violence at some point during their lives. In 2008, 3,921 domestic violence crimes were committed in Brevard County. There were over 1600 injunctions for protection filed in Brevard County in 2008. Many survivors of domestic violence are not reporting their abusers to the police or accessing services at domestic violence centers due to reasons such as shame, fear, or being prevented from doing so by their abusers, and we may never know the extent of abuse in our country and in our state.

Many women face obstacles that prevent them from leaving an abusive relationship. Some of these obstacles are: economic dependence, fear for her safety and the safety of her children and/or other family members, isolation, low self-esteem, beliefs about family, beliefs about marriage, fear of being seriously hurt or killed if she attempts to leave, lack of resources, and fear of not being able to make it on her own.

We need to speak out on behalf of domestic violence victims everywhere. It is through open and honest dialogue that victims will feel compelled to come forward and ask for the assistance they need to live independent and violence-free lives.

If you are a survivor of abuse by an intimate partner there is help available. Counseling can be very helpful in the healing process for people who have experienced abuse. At the Women's Center, men or women may schedule an appointment for individual counseling and there are weekly support groups for female domestic violence survivors. For more information about support groups, counseling, and advocate services call The Women’s Center at 242-3110 for south area and 607-6811 for Titusville area.

Are You Being Abused?

Physical Abuse:

Does your partner:

• Hit, slap, punch, shove, bite, cut, strangle, kick, or burn you? Spit on you?
• Throw objects at you or restrain you?
• Threaten or hurt you with an object or deadly weapon (a gun, knife, baseball bat, brick, chain, hammer, scissors, rope, belt buckle, extension cord, branch, bottle, acid, bleach or scalding water)?
• Abandon you or lock you out of the house?
• Neglect you when you are sick or pregnant?
• Endanger you or your children through reckless driving?
• Threaten or attempt to drown you?

Emotional Abuse:

Does your partner constantly say or do things that shame, embarrass, ridicule or insult you? Has he said:

• You're stupid, filthy, lazy, nasty, silly, etc.
• You're fat and ugly.
• You can't do anything right.
• You'll never get a job.
• You're an unfit mother.
• Who'd want you?

Does he:

• Withhold affection to punish you?
• Threaten to hurt you or your children?
• Tell you about his affairs or accuse you of having affairs?
• Forbid you to make decisions or socialize with your friends?
• Manipulate you with lies, contradictions or promises?

Financial Abuse:

Does your partner:

• Forbid you to work or handle your own money?
• Force you to sign over property or give him your personal possessions?
• Refuse to provide economically for you?

Sexual Abuse:

Does your partner:

• Force you to have sex when you don't want to or while sleeping?
• Force you to perform sexual acts you don't like?
• Criticize your sexual performance?
• Deny you sex?
• Not inform you of a Sexually Transmitted Disease he/she might have?
• Force you to have sex with or to watch others?
• Commit sexual acts that you consider sadistic?

Destructive Acts:

Does Your Partner:

• Break furniture, flood rooms, ransack or dump garbage in your house?
• Slash tires, break windows, steal, tamper with parts or put foreign substances in the gas tank of your car?
• Kill pets to punish or frighten you?
• Destroy clothing, jewelry, family photos or other personal items that he knows are important to you?

- There is no excuse and no acceptable reason for your partner to ever be physically abusive to you.

- You do not deserve to be emotionally abused. You have a right to a considerate and caring relationship.

- You don't have to submit to sexual acts you don't like. You deserve warm and nurturing sexual experiences.

- You do not deserve, nor do you have to be the victim of destructive acts by your partner.

For more information or help with this issue CALL The Women’s Center Counseling Services 242-1526 or 242-3110 ext 328.