October is the time when everyone starts getting ready for the holiday season. It's supposed to be a time for families to be together more, enjoying each other's company and celebrating the upcoming holidays. But there are many families out there who don't because there is an abusive member living in the household. October is a time for enjoying the fall colors and the cooler nights, but October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we cannot forget about those who are suffering. This article will provide signs of what domestic violence looks like.

If you or anyone you know is going through any of these, please speak up or if you can't in a safe manner, inform someone who can help while not putting anyone in danger.

The main sign that someone is being abusive is if they hurt another person physically. Fights may escalate from just punching walls when angry and throwing things and yelling to even more serious matters. This can be a number of things including punching, biting, kicking, or pushing. Attacks can also involve weapons, and if you are stuck in this position, try to get away as fast as possible and call for help. Physical abuse can also be sexual, meaning they force you to have sex or won't use condoms or other forms of birth control. Since abuse can also be emotional, the abuser can make someone think they owe them sex.

Abuse can also come in the form of being controlling and manipulative. They may accuse you or blame you for almost anything and everything. Criticizing and bullying is almost always present in an abusive relationship. They may try to control another person so that they won't leave the house physically, like locking a person in a room, or making sure they won't back out of the relationship. One way of controlling another is by using threats: either they will harm the person in the abusive relationship or someone they know. If they try to cut family and friends off in your life, this is a sign that they want to control you. An abusive partner may also try to control the other person's money by keeping cash and credit cards.

Abuse comes in many forms.

No one should ever have to go through any of these acts from their partner. If you have recognized any of these signs with someone you're involved with, please try to find the safest way out of the relationship. If anyone you know is going through any of this with their partner, talk to them if you can. If you are unable to, try to find the safest way in helping them.

Domestic violence can be easily hidden by people who feel unsafe, and this is why we need to be more aware.