Oct 9, 2013 1 min read

Signs that someone you know is being abused

• You notice your friend’s partner calls them names or puts them down in front of other people.

• If your friend talks to other people, their partner gets extremely jealous.

• They apologize for their partner’s behavior and make excuses for it.

• They frequently cancel plans at the last minute for reasons that sound strange or untrue.

• Their partner is always checking up, calling or texting and demanding to know where they’ve been and with whom.

• You’ve seen fights escalate to breaking or hitting things.

• They’re constantly worried about upsetting their partner or making them angry.

• Giving up things they used to enjoy, such as spending time with friends, family, or other activities.

• Weight, appearance, punctuality, or work attendance have changed dramatically. These could be signs of depression, which could indicate abuse.

• Your friend has injuries he or she can’t explain or the explanations given doesn’t make sense.

For immediate help, call the Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania hotline: Washington, 724-223-9190; Greene, 724-852-2463, and Fayette, 724-439-9500.