Don't Confuse Abuse With Love

The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) sent this bulletin at 10/25/2017 09:00 AM EDT

Violence and abuse affect women of all backgrounds every day. Sometimes, women are attacked by strangers, but most often, they are hurt by someone close to them. Violence and abuse can cause terrible physical and emotional pain. But survivors are not alone. Help is available. Here’s what everyone should know this Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic violence is when one person in a relationship purposely hurts his or her partner. It includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. If your loved one or a friend is being abused, there are ways you can help.  If you are being abused, get help fast. No one has the right to hurt you. To get out of an abusive relationship, you can develop a safety plan. For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE, or reach out to someone you trust. For more information: Read OWH Acting Director Nicole Greene’s blog post on domestic violence-related deaths, the importance of not confusing abuse with love, and how you can get help before the situation gets worse. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 (TTY). Visit the Violence Against Women section on womenshealth.gov. Use #DVAM, #DVAM17, #DVAM2017, and #DomesticViolence in social media messages to join the conversation.