October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner abuse, is best understood as a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one intimate partner against another to gain, maintain听or regain power and control in the relationship.
It is important to know the warning signs of intimate partner abuse, so please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with how this type of abuse tends to manifest.
Someone experiencing intimate partner abuse may feel . . .
- Constantly put down or criticized by their partner
- They are giving up things that are important to them, such as school, family or friendships
- Worried about their partner鈥檚 anger
- Scared of their partner鈥檚 unpredictability
- They are scanning for when the next eruption of anger will come
- Embarrassed for people to know how their partner treats them
Don't ignore it: How to support a friend who is in an abusive relationship
The Office of Victim Assistance shares tips and resources for supporting听a friend who may be in an abusive relationship.
Their partner may . . .
- Want to make all the decisions
- Try to control what their partner does, how they look, who they see and talk to
- Read their partner鈥檚 emails, texts听and call frequently to check up on them
- Manipulate with insults, guilt and/or threats
- Prevent their partner from working, studying or socializing
- Use money to control their partner
- Threaten to hurt their partner, loved ones or themselves
- Keep close track of where and what their partner is doing at all times
- Force their partner into unwanted sexual activity
- Destroy partner鈥檚 property, threatens pets
- Push, shove, slap听and/or hit their partner
If you are concerned about a relationship you are in or have been, or if you are concerned about a friend鈥檚 relationship, visit CU Boulder鈥檚 , a free and confidential advocacy and counseling center on campus for students, staff and faculty.
They are听located in听room S440 on the fourth floor of the Center for Community (C4C), open from听8 a.m. to 5 p.m.听Monday through Friday. You can also email听assist@colorado.edu听or call 303-492-8855 for help, which offers听after-hours phone counselors.
