Abuse is a pattern of physical, sexual, economic and/or psychological violence used to get control and maintain control over an intimate partner. It is important to know that you do not deserve to be abused, nor are you responsible for the abuse. Below are some examples of types of abuse that are common.

You may have a friend, relative, or neighbor who is being abused. You may have witnessed the violence, heard it, seen physical signs of it, or merely suspected it for various reasons. What should you do?