Domestic Violence is . . .
Domestic violence is not always easy to recognize. While physical violence is one form of abuse, many people experience harm that leaves no visible bruises. Abuse can be emotional, verbal, sexual, financial, psychological, or digital. It may involve controlling behaviors such as intimidation, isolation from family or friends, monitoring technology or communication, threats, or manipulation. These forms of abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, or background. Men and boys can be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and their experiences are real and valid. No one deserves to be hurt, controlled, or made to feel afraid in their own home or relationship.
If something doesn't feel safe or right, trust your instincts. Help and support are available. Our hotline counselors are available to work with you one-on-one to create a personalized safety plan focused on reducing risk and increasing your safety. Abuse is about power and control, not anger or love. It can happen to anyone regardless of gender, age, race, ability or background.
Click here for our Safety Planning Guide.
A pattern of controlling behavior by an abuser or perpetrator.
What is Domestic Violence?
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Do you or someone you know need help?
24/7 Crisis hotline 844-579-6848
hotline@missiongranbury.org
Common Signs of Abuse
Control and Isolation
Preventing or making it difficult to see friends or family, monitoring phone calls; telling you where you can and cannot go, preventing you from working or getting a job.
Coercion & Threats
Threating to harm you, your children or other family members, pets or themselves. Threatening deportation, police involvement or other legal consequences, pressuring you to drop charges. Using stalking, reckless driving or weapons to intimidate.
Economic Control
Refusing to give you or taking your money, taking your car keys or otherwise preventing you from using the car; threatening to report you to welfare or other social-service agencies, creating debt in your name, withholding basic needs.
Emotional & Psychological
Name-calling, mocking, accusing, blaming, yelling, swearing, making humiliating remarks or gestures. Gaslighting or making you feel "crazy." Destroying things you care about.
Sexual Abuse
Using force or coercion to obtain sex or perform sexual acts, sabotaging birth control, sexual humiliation, comments or unwanted touching, using substances to obtain sex
Technology Abuse
Monitoring phones, emails or social media, sending unwanted or threatening messages through email, texts or any other social media, pressuring someone to share sexual images
Threats and Intimidation
Using children or other family members to gather information, threatening to take children away, interfering with parenting or visitation, threatening to harm children, other family members or pets
Abuse of Elderly/Disabled
Often overlooked, abuse of elderly and the disabled include verbally aggressive, demeaning or controlling behavior, neglecting to provide adequate food, water, medication/other medical needs, unexplained bruises, cuts or burns and lack of personal hygiene or clean/warm clothing.
