1. Bruises Fade… but the pain lasts forever.

2.  Abusive relationships are characterized by extreme jealousy, emotional withholding, lack of intimacy, rage, infidelity, verbal abuse, threats, lies, broken promises, physical violence, power plays and control games.  As many as 324,000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during their pregnancy.  On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends every day.  Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States  Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.  Three in four women (76%) who reported they had been raped and/or physically assaulted since age 18 said that a current or former husband, cohabiting partner, or date committed the assault.  Pregnant and recently pregnant women are more likely to be victims of homicide than to die of any other cause.

3. 1. Physical Abuse- is the intentional use of physical force with the potential of causing injury, harm, disability, or death, for example hitting, shoving, biting, restraint, kicking, or the use of a weapon. 2. Sexual Abuse- is the use of physical force to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against his or her will, whether or not the act is completed. 3. Emotional Abuse- Can include humiliating the victim, controlling what he/she can and cannot do, withholding information from the victim, deliberately doing something to make the victim feel embarrassed, isolated the victim from friends and families, and denying them access to money or other basic resources. Women who are being emotionally abused often feel as if they don’t own themselves, they feel as if there significant other has totally taken control over them. Women undergoing emotional abuse often suffer from depression, which puts them at an increased risk for suicide, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse. 4. Economic Abuse- When the abuser has complete control over the victims money and other economical resources. The victim usually receives less money and is on a strict “allowance”. This also includes preventing the individual from finishing educations and obtaining employment.

4. Guilty Shocked and in disbelief Have lack of control Feared Humiliated Have lack of trust You have the right to decide what happens in your life at any time You have the right to decide what you want to do about the abuse. People can give you options, but the decision is entirely yours You have the right to decide whether or not you will report the crime to the police and how you want to report it You have the right to decide who will know about the abuse and when. You have the right to be informed at any time by the police and/or the district attorney as to the progress of your case at any time You have the right to have a support person with you at all times, and you have a right to choose who that person will be. You have the right not to be a "victim" for the rest of your life. You were a victim, but now you are a survivor.

5. 1) Recognize that you are vulnerable to abusive relationships, and make an effort to become a more emotionally healthy person. 2) Do not enter into a new relationship until you heal your emotional wounds. 3) Find a qualified therapist with experience in counseling people with your particular issues. 4) Build your self esteem 5) Set emotional boundaries in a relationship. Most abusive people seek out partners who they can push around. 6)Walk out of the relationship at the first sign of abuse.