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What is Domestic Violence

By February 5, 2010 No Comments

Getting Help

If you are fleeing an unsafe home and are in immediate danger, call the police and they can bring you and your children to the shelter, or call our 24-hour hotline at (317) 745-1496. Your name will not be given to anyone outside the shelter and you will have the peace of knowing that you are protected by state-of-the-art security systems. You will also be assigned a case manager to evaluate your needs and help you attain the services you need to begin your journey from victim to survivor to thriver.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic abuse, also called intimate partner violence or domestic violence, is the use of controlling or hurtful actions in a couple or dating relationship. A domestic abuser, or batterer, uses physical or sexual violence, emotional hurt, and threats to gain control through the victim’s fear.

  • Tension Building: Criticism, yelling, angry gestures, coercion, threats
  • Abuse: Physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual attacks and threats
  • Honeymoon: Apologies, promises to change, gifts

It’s a pattern of behavior, usually with repeated episodes of violence. There may also be times when the abuse is less obvious. However, even one threat, or one abusive act, results in intimidation that is felt throughout the family.