The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Every woman has the right to live her life safely and free of violence. Yet one in four women in the United States experiences violence from an intimate partner. Intimate partner violence includes domestic abuse, sexual assault, verbal and emotional abuse, coercion, and stalking. Violence and abuse can cause physical and emotional problems that last long after the abuse. If you've experienced violence or abuse, it is never your fault, and you can get help.


You may be experiencing emotional or verbal abuse if someone:

Wants to know what you’re doing all the time and wants you to be in constant contact
Demands passwords to things like your phone, email, and social media and shows other signs of digital abuse
Acts very jealous, including constantly accusing you of cheating
Prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family
Tries to stop you from going to work or school
Gets angry in a way that is frightening to you
Controls all your finances or how you spend your money
Stops you from seeing a doctor
Humiliates you in front of others
Calls you insulting names (such as “stupid,” “disgusting,” “worthless,” “whore,” or “fat”)
Threatens to hurt you, people you care about, or pets
Threatens to call the authorities to report you for wrongdoing
Threatens to harm himself or herself when upset with you
Says things like, “If I can’t have you, then no one can”
Decides things for you that you should decide (like what to wear or eat)

Staying in an emotionally or verbally abusive relationship can have long-lasting effects on your physical and mental health, including leading to chronic pain, depression, or anxiety.

You may also:

Question your memory of events: “Did that really happen?”
Change your behavior for fear of upsetting your partner or act more aggressive or more passive than you would be otherwise
Feel ashamed or guilty
Feel constantly afraid of upsetting your partner
Feel powerless and hopeless
Feel manipulated, used, and controlled
Feel unwanted
Your partner’s behavior may leave you feeling as though you need to do anything possible to restore peace and end the abuse. This can feel stressful and overwhelming.


Domestic violence is sometimes called intimate partner violence. It includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, as well as sexual coercion and stalking by a current or former intimate partner. An intimate partner is a person with whom you have or had a close personal or sexual relationship. Intimate partner violence affects millions of women each year in the United States.