Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.  Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.  This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

Are you in an abusive relationship?  Use the following checklist to help determine if you are being abused.

Does your partner…

• Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends or family?
• Put down your accomplishments or goals?
• Make you feel like you are unable to make decisions?
• Use intimidation or threats to get his/her way?
• Tell you that you are nothing without him/her?
• Treat you roughly – grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?
• Call you constantly to make sure you are where you said you would be?
• Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or abusing you?
• Blame you for how they feel or act?
• Pressure you sexually for things your are not comfortable doing?
• Make you feel like there “is not way out” of the relationship?
• Prevent you from doing things you want?
• Try to keep you from leaving after a fight or leave you somewhere after a fight to “teach you a lesson?”

Do you…

• Sometimes feel scared of how your partner will act?
• Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner’s behavior?
• Believe that you can help your partner change if only you changed something about yourself?
• Try not to do anything that would cause conflict or make your partner angry?
• Feel like no matter what you do, your partner is never happy with you?
• Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of what you want?
• Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what your partner would do if you left?

 

If you feel that you may be being abused…

you are not alone

the abuse is not your fault

it will probably get worse

there is help and support available.

 

Contact our Crisis Line

If any of these are happening in your relationship, talk to someone.  If you don’t have someone to talk to, consider calling our 24-hour hotline at (770)479-1703.  Our hotline workers are specially trained in domestic violence and are available 24 hours a day to provide resources, help with options to stay safe or just to listen.

The Cherokee Family Violence Center has two 24-hour crisis hotlines:

In English (770)479-1703/TTY (770) 479-7703

En Espanol (770)720-7050

CFVC also accepts collect calls to our crisis lines.

If you are a Georgia resident in need of assistance, call the 24-hour toll-free crisis line at 1(800)33-HAVEN (42836).   If you are outside of Georgia, please call the national domestic violence crisis line at 1(800)621-HOPE (4673).

 

Come to our Support Groups

Support groups are another option to consider.  Besides offering individual crisis counseling, our program also offers twice weekly support groups.  These groups offer a safe place to talk about your feelings and experiences in an atmosphere free of judgment.  It’s also an opportunity to meet and talk with other people who have had similar experiences.  Our Support Groups are offered every Monday afternoon at 1 PM and Tuesday evening at 7 PM.  Free childcare is available.  Contact our hotline at (770)479-1703 for directions.