Physical health (27)
- Medical history: Compiling your medical family tree
- Hand washing: Do's and don'ts
- Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin
- see all in Physical health
Mental health (11)
- Self-esteem: Boost your self-image with these 5 steps
- Self-esteem check: Too low, too high or just right?
- Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship
- see all in Mental health
Healthy relationships (7)
- Sex therapy: Is it an option for you?
- Domestic violence against men: Know the signs, seek help
- Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help
- see all in Healthy relationships
Healthy at work (11)
- Office exercise: How to burn calories at work
- Office stretches: How-to video collection
- Sick leave: Smooth the transition back to work
- see all in Healthy at work
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
close window
Housecall Archives
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Domestic violence against men: Know the signs, seek help
Create a safety plan
Leaving an abuser can be dangerous. Consider taking these precautions:
- Call a domestic violence hotline for advice. Make the call at a safe time — when the abuser isn't around — or from a friend's house or other safe location.
- Pack an emergency bag that includes items you'll need when you leave, such as extra clothes and keys. Leave the bag in a safe place. Keep important personal papers, money and prescription medications handy so that you can take them with you on short notice.
- Know exactly where you'll go and how you'll get there, even if you have to leave in the middle of the night.
Protect your communication
An abuser may use technology to monitor your telephone and Internet communication and to track your physical location. To maintain your privacy and safety:
- Use cordless phones and cell phones cautiously. Your abuser may intercept calls and listen to your conversations. He or she may check your cell phone to see who has called or texted you. Your abuser also may check billing records to see your complete call history.
- Use your home computer cautiously. Your abuser may use spyware to monitor your e-mails and the Web sites you visit. Consider using a computer at work, at the library or at a friend's house to seek help.
- Frequently change your e-mail password. Choose a password that would be impossible for your abuser to guess.
- Clear your viewing history. Follow your browser's instructions to clear any record of Web sites or graphics you've viewed.
Where to seek help
In an emergency, call 911, your local emergency number or your local law enforcement agency. The following resources also can help:
- Someone you trust. Turn to a friend, relative, neighbor, co-worker or religious or spiritual advisor for support.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE or 800-799-7233. The hotline provides crisis intervention and referrals to resources.
- Your health care provider. Doctors and nurses will treat injuries and may refer you to other local resources.
- A counseling or mental health center. Counseling and support groups for people in abusive relationships are available in most communities. Be wary of advice to seek couples or marriage counseling. If violence has escalated to the point that you're afraid, counseling may not be a good option.
- A local court. Your district court can help you obtain a restraining order that legally mandates the abuser to stay away from you or face arrest. Local advocates may be available to help guide you through the process.
Domestic violence against men can have devastating effects. Although you may not be able to stop your partner's abusive behavior, you can seek help. Remember, no one deserves to be abused.
Previous page(2 of 2)
References
- Understanding intimate partner violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.ndvh.org/educate/abuse_in_america.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- McHugh MC, et al. Intimate partner violence: New directions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2006;1087:121.
- Barber CF. Domestic violence against men. Nursing Standard. 2008;22:35.
- Du Plat-Jones J. Domestic violence: The role of health professionals. 2006;21:44.
- Let's talk facts about domestic violence. American Psychiatric Association. http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-DomesticViolence.pdf. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
- Violence at home. American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/pi/violenceathome.html. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
- AAMFT consumer update: Domestic violence. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. http://www.aamft.org/families/consumer_updates/domestic_violence.asp. Accessed Feb. 10, 2009.
- Reid RJ, et al. Intimate partner violence among men: Prevalence, chronicity, and health effects. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2008;34:478.
- Violence against women: What is abuse? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/signs. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Women's health: Domestic violence. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp083.cfm. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Safety planning list. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/planning/safetyplanninglist.pdf. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Internet safety. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. http://www.ncadv.org/protectyourself/InternetSafety_121.html. Accessed Feb. 11, 2009.
- Southworth C, et al. Intimate partner violence, technology and stalking. Violence Against Women. 2007;13:842.
- Violence against women: Court order of protection. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/violence/prevent/civil.cfm. Jan. 30, 2009.
- Pitt EL, et al. Violence and trauma: Recognitions, recovery and prevention. In: Makadon HJ, et al. The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health. Philadelphia, Pa.: American College of Physicians; 2008:253.
- Issues: Domestic violence. National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. http://www.ncavp.org/issues/DomesticViolence.aspx. Accessed March 25, 2009.
- Hamel J, et al. Family Interventions in Domestic Violence. New York, N.Y.: Springer Publishing; 2006:9.
- Andersen TH. Speaking about the unspeakable: Sexually abused men striving toward language. American Journal of Men's Health. 2008;2:29.
- Hines DA, et al. Characteristics of callers to the domestic abuse helpline for men. Journal of Family Violence. 2007;22:68.
- Houston E, et al. Intimate partner abuse among gay and bisexual men: Risk correlates and health outcomes. Journal of Urban Health. 2007;84:681.
- Bostwick JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 26, 2009.
