Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Ask yourself: Has your partner ever

• Hit, slapped, or punched you?
• Threatened you, your children, or your family pets?
• Forbidden you to leave the house or restricted your access to finances?
• Cut you off from family and friends?
• Demanded to know where you are at all times?
• Called or harassed you repeatedly at work?
• Threatened to kill you or himself?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you may be in an abusive situation.

How Common Is It?

In Georgia alone, roughly 50,000 calls are made to domestic-violence crisis lines each year. Abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, age, or income.

And just in Hall County, about 25% of emergency-room visits are related to domestic violence. Hall County's 911 service receives over 3600 domestic-situation calls per year, resulting in over 180 arrests.

And domestic violence has a severe impact on children, too. Three of every four victims in Georgia have one or more children under 18, and child abuse is 15 times as likely to occur in families where domestic violence is present. Children growing up in abusive homes are often socially isolated and have difficulty forming relationships; worse yet, they learn that violence is a "normal and acceptable" way to handle problems. Often, children blame themselves for what's going on.

What Can You Do?

The most important thing to do when you realize you're in an abusive situation is to get help. Accept the truth and know that the situation is not your fault; then make plans to get yourself and your loved ones out of the situation safely. For more information, go to the Get Help page.