最近戀戀里常有關於家庭暴力的討論，以下是我從National Women's Health Information Center 抄來的。（網站是http://www.4woman.gov/violence/violence.cfm?page=signs）尤其看第八條和最後一條。

每次讀到這種帖子，真為這些被丈夫或男友毆打的姐妹們感到難過。

尤其是我在網上讀到，家庭暴力者的暴力很有可能升級(escalate)。一旦他覺得一般的暴力嚇不倒你，就可能用更為出格的暴力，甚至威脅你的生命。這種婚姻還是快快逃出來為好。

Intimate partner violence, also called domestic violence, is the most frequent type of violence committed against women. Intimate partner violence is when one person purposely causes either physical or psychological harm to another, including physical abuse, psychological/emotional abuse, sexual assault, isolation, or economic abuse (controlling all of the victim's money, shelter, time, food, etc.). Most often, the violent person is a husband, former husband, boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend, but sometimes the abuser is female.

This very common problem should be taken very seriously. One in four women report that they have been victims of intimate partner violence or stalking by someone they know. These crimes occur in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships. The consequences of intimate partner violence can be devastating to women. Physical and emotional trauma can lead to increased stress, depression, lowered self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress disorder (an emotional state of discomfort and stress associated with the memories of a disturbing event).

Sometimes it is difficult and confusing to admit that you are in an abusive relationship, or to find a way out, but there are clear signs to help you know if you are being abused. If the person you love or live with does any of these things to you, it's time to get help:

１。Keeps track of what you are doing all the time and criticizes you for little things.

２。Constantly accuses you of being unfaithful.

３。Prevents or discourages you from seeing friends or family, or going to work or school.

４。Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs.

５。Controls all the money you spend.

６。Humiliates you in front of others.

７。Destroys your property or things that you care about.

８。Threatens to hurt you or the children or pets, or does cause hurt (by hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, or biting).

９。Uses or threatens to use a weapon against you.

１０。Forces you to have sex against your will.

１１。Blames you for his/her violent outbursts.