Love Shouldn't Hurt
A lot of people think abuse isn’t present if no one’s being hit. They also think abusers are monsters who are easy to spot. Being put down can hurt as much as being beat up. Someone who loves you with their heart can abuse you with their words and actions. Abusive relationships aren’t always black and white. Oftentimes, they’re countless pixels of gray.
If you feel scared of someone, whether they hit you or not, that’s a sign that you need help. It doesn’t matter why they hurt you or if you think you provoked them. Like sexual assault, domestic violence is something no one deserves. It’s a normal thing that shouldn’t be normal, so you’re not alone in dealing with it.
If you want to talk, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-224), text “START” to 88788, or chat online at https://www.thehotline.org/#. All of these options are free, confidential, and available 24/7. Talking doesn’t require that you leave your relationship. Whether or not you stay is up to you, and no one should judge you either way. Instead, talking opens the door for things to get better. It leads to whatever you need, whether that’s improved communication with your partner, ways to feel safer at home, or a plan to leave your relationship.
Here are examples of abuse:
If you want to learn more, you can visit https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/ 💜