Family violence includes abuse/violence between any members of a household. The people can be related by blood, marriage or an intimate relationship.
There are different types of abuse:
Physical – Physical abuse may include hitting, pushing, pulling your hair, choking you, slapping, holding you down against your will, throwing and breaking things in front of you or using weapons against you. Physical violence may increase over time, and can lead to death or severe injury.
Sexual – Sexual abuse can include pressuring you to have sex or to do sexual acts you don’t want to do, inflicting pain on you during sex or forcing you to have sex after you have said no. Sexual abuse can also involve the use of pornography, sexual jokes or insults against you.
Emotional – Emotional abuse includes insulting you, cursing or swearing at you, putting you down, and disregarding what you say. It can also include isolating you from your friends or family or turning people against you, as well as preventing you from working or getting an education. Emotional abuse creates high levels of stress and unhappiness.
Some misunderstandings about abuse and violence:
"He said he only hurts me because I make him do it."
You cannot make another person pick up his hand to hit you or injure you. It is the abusive person who makes the choice to do harm.
"My boyfriend threatened to kill me, but I know he was only angry. He would never do that."
Take seriously any threats to hurt or to kill you, your children or your family. Too often threats are followed by action. Don't take any threat lightly.
"Domestic violence agencies are only meant to help women. They don't help men who are abused."
Abuse/violence can occur to anyone from any walk of life – rich, poor, educated, not educated and from every racial background. VIP/Rape Crisis serves men as well as women. Men can be abused by their partners, and if you are abused, we encourage you to seek help.
The services of licensed counselors and experienced staff are free to Dallas County residents.
