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OUR MISSION: H.U.G.S. Sharon is committed to making our community safer by educating the public regarding violence in relationships and by providing assistance to victims and families affected by domestic violence.
 
     
   

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What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence comes in many forms, including emotional, physical and sexual. The abuse generally comes from the abuser’s desire for power and control.

The following list can help you recognize if you or someone you care about is in a dangerous or unhealthy relationship.

Check the behaviors that apply to the situation. The more items you check, the more dangerous the situation and the greater the need to get help.

___Verbal abuse Name calling, blaming, yelling, humiliating remarks

___Pressure tactics Rushing you to make decisions through “guilt trips,”
threatening to withhold money, manipulating the children

___Abusing authority Always claiming to be right, making decisions for you

___Disrespect Interrupting, changing the subject, twisting your words, putting you down in front of others

___Abusing trust Lying, withholding information, cheating on you, being overly jealous

___Breaking promises Not following through on agreements, refusing to help with children or housework

___Emotional withholding Not expressing feelings, not giving support, attention or compliments

___Minimizing, denying and blaming Making light of behavior, saying the abuse didn’t happen, shifting responsibility for the abuse

___Economic control Not letting you work, refusing to give you money or taking it from you, taking your car keys

___Self-destructive behavior Abusing alcohol or drugs, threatening suicide or other forms of self harm

___Isolation Making it difficult for you to see friends and family, monitoring your phone calls, telling you where you can and cannot go

___Harassment, stalking Making uninvited visits or calls, following you, checking up on you, embarrassing you in public

___Intimidation Making angry or threatening gestures, using physical size, driving recklessly

___Destruction Destroying your possessions, punching walls, throwing things

___Threats Making and/or carrying out threats to hurt you or others

___Sexual violence Degrading treatment, using force, threats or coercion to obtain sex

___Physical violence Being violent to your children, pets or others; slapping, punching, grabbing, kicking, biting, burning, pushing, etc.

___Weapons Using weapons, keeping weapons around to frighten you

*The above definitions and warning signs were adapted from the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation’s pamphlet on domestic violence.

IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER CALL: 911
Confidential Phone: 781-784-5056
For more information call: 781-784-5056