FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you have an abuse problem?
Many people do. Whether you're male, female, white, black, rich or poor, you are not immune from abusing or being abused.

Anyone can abuse someone whom they care about, and many do. Maybe you do. Or maybe you're being abused.

To find out, ask yourself these follwing questions

1. Is your partner afraid of you sometimes?
2. Are you jealous of your partner?
3. Do you need to know where your partner is at all times and with whom and doing what?
4. Are you very protective of your partner?
5. Do you consider yourself the ruler of your castle?
6. Do you feel like sometimes you have to put your foot down to straighten things out in your relationship?
7. Have you ever hit, slapped, choked or pushed your partner?
8. Have you ever said " Don't make me angry!"?
9. Have you ever threatened your partner?
10. Have you ever said something that your partner might consider a threat, even if you never really would do it or were just joking?
11. Have you ever said or thought " If I can't have you, nobody can!"?
12. Have you ever had sex shortly after a violent episode?
13. Have you ever thrown things or hit walls during an argument with your partner?
14. Do you find yourself " convincing " your partner on a regular basis to do things that he or she would rather not do?
15. Do you consider it important that things go your way?
16. Do you think that your partner sometimes deserves to be hit?
17. Do you think that your partner sometimes wants to be hit?
18. Have you ever found yourself smiling or laughing when your partner is hurt?
19. Have you ever intentionally harmed or broken something which was important to your partner?
20. Have you ever been afraid to tell someone about something that happened between you and your partner because you were afraid that they wouldn't understand and that you would be in trouble (maybe even legal trouble)?
21. Are you sure that you don't have an abuse problem because:
* you see people around you doing worse all the time?
* you never meant to hurt anybody?
* you are a harmless, loveable person?
* anybody else would treat your partner at least as badly?
* you think that you are better or smarter than abusers?
* you love your partner?
* you never hit your partner?
* your partner always hits you back/first/more?
* your friends all tell you that it's okay?
22. Do you think you have an anger problem?
23. Have you ever seen your partner " tune out " while you were yelling at him or her?
24. Have you ever seen your partner honestly fear you?
25. Have you ever followed your partner when he or she didn't want you to?
26. Have you ever physically stopped your partner from leaving?
27. Is it important to you that others, particularly your partner, agree with you?
28. Would you be completely non-violent and non-threatening " if only...."?
29. Have you been told by your partner or others that you are:
* Selfish?, Mean?, Controlling?, Critical?, Stubborn?,
* Manipulative?, Cruel?, Arrogant? or Hypocritical?
30. Do you find yourself answering questions here with " yes, but...."?
31. Have you ever threatened or attempted to kill yourself or a partner?

QUESTIONS

If you found yourself answering "yes" to several of the above questions, you may want to contact the domestic abuse resources in your community. They can help you to determine whether or not you are in an abusive relationship, and let you know what options you have in obtaining help.