Is there too much abuse in your relationship or in someone you love's relationship?  It can be difficult to tell if a relationship has become very abusive especially when it began with a very strong bond of love. Observing behavior rather than just listening to what someone says is the best way to tell if there is too much abuse even if no one has raised a hand to hit, yet.

The following questions have been developed in various battered woman's programs around the world. Try to answer them for your relationship or for someone who you love. If there are more than five categories checked off, or any one of the last five questions, then there is too much abuse in that relationship and steps to change it should be undertaken immediately.

Take the Battered Women's Questionnaire.  Does the person you love...

1.

Have to know where you are all the time?

2.

Constantly accuse you of being unfaithful?

3.

Discourage your relationships with family and friends?

4.

Want you to stop working or attending school?

5.

Criticize you for little things?

6.

Anger easily especially when drinking or using drugs?

7.

Control all the finances and make you account for every penny you spend?

8.

Refuse to keep a job and force you to pay all the bills?

9.

Humiliate you or insult you in front of others?

10.

Destroy your personal property or sentimental things?

11.

Demand sex even when you do not want it?

12.

Hit, punch, slap, push, pull your hair, shake, kick, twist your arms or legs, bite you or your children?

13.

Threaten to hurt you or your children?

14.

Threaten to or actually use a weapon against you or your children?

15.

Coerce or force you to perform sexual acts you don't want to engage in?

Score
If you answered "yes" to more than 5 of the above items or to items #12, 13, 14, or 15, then there is too much violence in your home and you need to do something right now to help your family survive!
 

How To Get Help
Call Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center at 1-800-696-7187 or the national domestic violence   hot line at 1-800-333-SAFE right now to find a local battered woman shelter.