Domestic Violence

It’s not always easy to tell at the beginning of a relationship if it will become abusive.

In fact, many abusive partners may seem absolutely perfect in the early stages of a relationship. Possessive and controlling behaviors don’t always appear overnight, but rather emerge and intensify as the relationship grows.

Domestic violence doesn’t look the same in every relationship because every relationship is different. But one thing most abusive relationships have in common is that the abusive partner does many different kinds of things to have more power and control over their partners.

If you’re beginning to feel as if your partner or a loved one’s partner is becoming abusive, there are a few behaviors that you can look out for. Watch out for these
red flags and if you’re experiencing one or more of them in your relationship                    contact or call  Voices of Truth 978-230-6446

Telling you that you can never do anything right
Showing jealousy of your friends and time spent away
Keeping you or discouraging you from seeing friends or family members
Embarrassing or shaming you with put-downs
Controlling every penny spent in the household
Taking your money or refusing to give you money for expenses
Looking at you or acting in ways that scare you
Controlling who you see, where you go, or what you do
Preventing you from making your own decisions
Telling you that you are a bad parent or threatening to harm or take away your children
Preventing you from working or attending school
Destroying your property or threatening to hurt or kill your pets
Intimidating you with guns, knives or other weapons
Pressuring you to have sex when you don’t want to or do things sexually you’re not comfortable with
Pressuring you to use drugs or alcohol 

 ​NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
1-800-799-7233 | 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Where can I go for help?
 

Take your safety seriously and dial 911 at the first sign of danger!  There are many helpful resources depending on your needs.  We highly recommend the following resources:
 

YWCA
24 HOUR HELPLINE   1-508-755-9030

SPANISH AMERICAN CENTER DV SERVICES

978-534-3145

Emergency Shelter in Massachusetts: SafeLink
1-877-785-2020 phone
1-877-521-2601 tty
 

Massachusetts: National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799.SAFE 7233
TTY 1-800-787-3224
http://www.thehotline.org

SEXUAL ABUSE

PATHWAYS FOR CHANGE 

24 HOUR HOTLINE   800-870-5905
 

 23 pages of information about Domestic Violence and Resources for our area.       

Be cautious in who you tell.  Speak with your pastor (s) first.  Having the mindset of 'ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS'

Speak to HR 

There are policies and laws now in place regarding your job when you are dealing with Domestic Violence

At VOT we take your situation seriously.  If you need someone to speak with, give us a call at Voices of Truth Center in Gardner