Are you experiencing abuse?

(Take a moment to answer the following questions)

 Physical Abuse
Have you ever experienced any of the following in a relationship with another person (ie. within your family and/or with your intimate partner)?
Pushed or shoved you?  Yes  No
Held or blocked you to keep you from leaving?  Yes  No
Slapped you?  Yes  No
Kicked you?  Yes  No
Bit you?  Yes  No
Punched you?  Yes  No
Thrown you bodily?  Yes  No
Choked you?  Yes  No
Twisted your arm?  Yes  No
Threatened you with a weapon?  Yes  No

If you checked YES to any of these violent experiences, you may be experiencing physical abuse in your relationship. The Community Safety Office can provide assistance.


Emotional and Verbal Abuse

Have you ever experienced any of the following in a relationship with another person (ie. within your family and/or with your intimate partner)?

Repetitive and/or excessive criticism?  Yes  No
Punished you by withholding affection?  Yes  No
Stopped you from seeing your friends and/or family?  Yes  No
Swore at you or called you names?  Yes  No
Made homophobic, racist, misogynist attacks (degrading and hostile remarks about your sexual orientation, heritage or gender)  Yes  No
Controlled your activities such as where you went, with whom?  Yes  No
Threatened or caused harm to your pets?  Yes  No
Regularly gave you the silent treatment?  Yes  No
Made you account for time not spent together?  Yes  No
Ignored you for periods of time?  Yes  No
Broke promises and then denied it?  Yes  No

If you checked YES to any of these experiences, you may be experiencing abuse in your relationship. The Community Safety Office can provide assistance.
 

‘Emotional abuse and/or controlling behavior are often a precursor to physical violence in a relationship.’

Bunge, P. (2000). Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.



Threats

Have you ever experienced any of the following in a relationship with another person (ie. within your family and/or with your intimate partner)?


Threatened to harm you, your family, or friends?  Yes  No
Made threats that could affect child custody and/or immigration status?  Yes  No
Made threats to reveal your sexual orientation against your wishes?  Yes  No
Accused you for things you haven’t done (i.e. having an affair)?  Yes  No
Threatened to commit suicide if you left the relationship?  Yes  No

If you checked YES to any of these experiences, you may be experiencing abuse in your relationship. The Community Safety Office can provide assistance.

‘Those who are young are at greater risk of interpersonal violence. Individuals under the age of 25 years old are more likely than those who are older to be victimized by their intimate partner.’

Family Violence in Canada: A Statisical Profile 2005. Ottawa: Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada.



Economic Abuse


Have you ever experienced any of the following in a relationship with another person (ie. within your family and/or with your intimate partner)?


Are your finances being controlled by this person against your wishes?  Yes  No
Has your money been stolen or debt been created without your consent?  Yes  No
Is this person interfering with your ability to pursue education or work?  Yes  No

If you checked YES to any of these experiences, you may be experiencing abuse in your relationship. The Community Safety Office can provide assistance.

Stalking/Criminally Harassing Behavior

Have you ever experienced any of the following in a relationship with another person (i.e. within your family and/or with your intimate partner)?


Followed you, your friends, family and anyone else close to you?  Yes  No
Appeared unexpectedly at or waited outside your work, home, class?  Yes  No
Repeated phone calls, messages, or emails that annoy or threaten?  Yes  No
Received unwanted things (i.e. gifts, letters)?  Yes  No
Tried to get private information about you from other people?  Yes  No
Vandalized your property?  Yes  No
Caused harm or threatened to cause harm to your pets?  Yes  No
Entered your home without permission?
  Yes  No
Threatened you, your family, friends and anyone else close to you?
  Yes  No
Held you hostage against your will?  Yes  No

If you checked YES to any of these experiences, you may be experiencing stalking/criminal harassment. The Community Safety Office can provide assistance.

 

‘More than 58% of those that indicated in the General Social Survey (2004) that they had been stalked by a current or previous partner in the past five years, also reported being a victim of intimate partner abuse during that same period.’

Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2005. Ottawa: Statistics Canada.




Sexual Abuse

Have you ever experienced any of the following in a relationship with another person (i.e. your intimate partner)?

Has your partner ever:


Taken sexual advantage of you while you were infuenced by drugs or alcohol?  Yes  No
Said 'if you love me you won't say no!'?  Yes  No
Made you afraid that they would become violent if you refused to have sex?  Yes  No
Touched you in ways that made you feel  uncomfortable?  Yes  No
Used force or violence to get sex?  Yes  No
Despite you saying 'no' continued to engage in sexual activity with you?  Yes  No

If you checked YES to any of these experiences, you may have been sexually abused in your relationship. The Community Safety Office can provide assistance.

 

‘Violence occurs at approximately the same rate in same sex relationships as it does in heterosexual relationships.’

Elliot, P. (1996). Shattering Illusions: Same Sex Domestic Violence in Rezette and Miley (eds.). Violence in Gay and Lesbian Domestic Partnerships. New York: Haworth Press.




Other links relevant to abusive relationships:

  • Definition of Abuse
  • What are the impacts of experiencing abuse?
  • What assistance can the Community Safety Office provide?
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