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Identifying Abuse

Possessiveness: The Precursor to Power and Control

Eight signs you should run before the abuse begins | We’re taught from a very young age that jealousy and possessiveness are signs of true love. If you need proof, loo... read more
Abusers Use Suffocation as a Power Move

The potentially deadly effects are the same as being strangled | We know that abusers strangle their victims as a way to exert power and control over them—they want th... read more
How to Survive Gaslighting

Four tactics for learning to trust your intuition again | I know what happened. I’m not imagining things. Am I imagining things? %{email_signup} He’s right, I must ... read more
Sleep Deprivation Used as Abuse Tactic

Some abusers punish survivors for falling asleep, then for making mistakes when exhausted | Domestic violence survivors often find they have trouble sleeping, and for ... read more
Refugee Children & Intimate Partner Violence: Part II

How to boost the resilience of children exposed to IPV | While many behaviors signal a child in distress, no behavior in and of itself is diagnostic of a child exposed... read more
Refugee Children & Intimate Partner Violence: Part I

Effects of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) on refugee children and ways to reduce this exposure by helping their mothers achieve safety | Children suffer w... read more
You Ask, We Answer

Answers to your top eight questions about domestic violence | We’ve sifted through our email inbox, Facebook message board and even some old-fashioned handwritten l... read more
Profiling an Abuser: 6 Signs You Should Pay Attention To

Don't just look to the past—an abuser's current behavior may do more to indicate danger ahead | Many how-to-spot-an-abuser advice pieces, including the one ... read more
My Partner Is Trying to Make Me Seem Crazy. Am I Crazy?

How abusers use mind tricks and manipulation to portray survivors as insane | Sarah’s* abuser made her sleep facing him in bed. It started innocently enough. He sa... read more
It's Time to Challenge Sexist Humor

Men who find disparaging jokes funny are more likely to be insecure about their masculinity, says study | A new study finds that men who believe they need to prove ... read more
When Alzheimer's Disease Takes a Violent Turn

Can you forgive someone you love for abusive behavior when an illness is to blame? | It’s one thing to know that abuse is a choice made by an abuser—it cannot be blam... read more
5 Ways to Intervene When You Suspect Domestic Violence

There are safe ways to be an active bystander and speak up for those who can’t | Imagine this scenario: You’re out shopping on a Saturday afternoon. You’re perusing... read more
Quiz Yourself: Do You Know These 7 Terms for Abuse?

Unfortunately, the vocab of domestic violence is broad and diverse | You probably know what physical abuse is. You can piece together what psychological abuse entai... read more
R. Kelly's Sex Cult is Domestic Violence

Why some victims believe they love their abusers | In July of 2017, a story broke that seemed almost too absurd to be true—famed ‘90s rapper Robert “R.” Kelly had b... read more
Are You Seeing Ghosts?

Social isolation can give rise to imaginary relationships | While some call it torture, the CIA calls it “an interrogation technique." Either way, it's used to extr... read more