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Understanding violence is the first step toward prevention, healing, and supporting survivors. Explore these resources to learn about domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, trauma, healthy relationships, and other topics related to interpersonal violence. Whether you’re a survivor, family member, professional, student, or community member, these educational resources are designed to increase awareness, dispel myths, and promote informed, survivor-centered responses.
Domestic violence is more than physical abuse. It is a pattern of behaviors used by one person to gain or maintain power and control over a current or former intimate partner. Abuse can happen in relationships of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, or geographic location.
Domestic violence often involves a combination of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, technological, or coercive abuse. While every relationship is different, the common thread is one person’s use of power and control over another.
Domestic violence may include:
Hitting, punching, kicking, choking or strangulation, pushing, restraining, or using weapons.
Manipulation, intimidation, humiliation, threats, gaslighting, or constant criticism.
Any unwanted sexual contact, coercion, reproductive coercion, or sexual assault within an intimate relationship.
Controlling money, preventing employment, creating debt, or withholding financial resources.
Monitoring devices, tracking locations, controlling social media accounts, excessive texting or calling, or using technology to intimidate or harass.
A pattern of behaviors designed to isolate, intimidate, and control another person.
One of the most common—and most misunderstood—questions is, “Why don’t they just leave?”
The reality is that leaving an abusive relationship is often complicated and can be the most dangerous time for a survivor. People stay for many reasons, including:
Every survivor’s situation is different. The decision to stay, leave, or return to a relationship is deeply personal and should never be met with judgment.
Sexual assault is any sexual act or contact that occurs without a person’s freely given, informed, and voluntary consent. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or background.
Sexual assault is never the survivor’s fault. Responsibility always lies with the person who chose to commit the assault.
Sexual assault can be committed by a stranger, but most survivors know the person who assaulted them. The offender may be a current or former intimate partner, friend, acquaintance, coworker, family member, classmate, or someone else the survivor knows and trusts.
Consent is a clear, voluntary, and ongoing agreement to participate in a specific sexual activity.
Consent means:
Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, communication, and enthusiastic consent.
There is no “right” way to respond to sexual assault. Every survivor reacts differently, and every response is valid.
Some survivors may experience:
Some people may appear calm or return to their normal routine shortly after an assault, while others may have intense emotional reactions. Both are normal responses to trauma.
After a sexual assault, survivors have options. Some choose to seek immediate medical care, while others may decide not to. Every survivor has the right to make the decision that is best for them.
A medical forensic exam can:
In Tennessee, survivors do not have to report to law enforcement to receive a medical forensic exam, and eligible exams are provided at no cost to the survivor.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault, you have choices:
Learn more about What to Expect During a Medical Forensic Exam.
Healing looks different for everyone, and there is no right or wrong way to move forward. Whether the assault happened recently or years ago, support is available.
You deserve to be believed, treated with compassion, and connected to the care and resources that best meet your needs.
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted behaviors directed at a specific person that causes fear, concern for their safety, or substantial emotional distress. It can happen in person, online, or through technology, and it often escalates over time.
Technology-facilitated abuse occurs when someone uses technology to monitor, harass, intimidate, threaten, or control another person. While technology can be a valuable tool for connection and safety, it can also be misused to extend abuse beyond face-to-face interactions.
Stalking and technology-facilitated abuse frequently occur alongside domestic violence, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
Stalking behaviors may include:
While a single behavior may seem harmless, stalking is about the pattern of repeated unwanted behaviors that create fear or distress.
Technology-facilitated abuse occurs when technology is used as a tool of control, intimidation, harassment, or surveillance.
Examples include:
Technology changes rapidly, but the goal of abuse remains the same—to gain power and control over another person.
You may be experiencing stalking or technology-facilitated abuse if someone:
If you believe someone is using technology to stalk or monitor you, consider:
Every situation is different. A personalized safety plan can help you determine the safest steps for your circumstances.
If you think someone may be monitoring your phone, computer, or online accounts, avoid making sudden changes without first speaking with an advocate. In some situations, changing passwords, disabling location services, or removing tracking devices can alert the abusive person and increase risk. A victim advocate can help you create a safety plan that considers your unique circumstances.
Trust your instincts. If someone’s behavior makes you feel unsafe or fearful, take it seriously.
You may want to:
If you believe you are experiencing stalking or technology-facilitated abuse, you are not alone. Advocates can help you understand your options, strengthen your digital safety, and develop a personalized safety plan.
Trauma affects both the brain and the body. During a traumatic event, the brain may activate automatic survival responses that are beyond a person’s conscious control.
These responses may include:
These survival responses are involuntary. A survivor’s inability to fight back, scream, or physically resist does not mean they consented to the assault.
Trauma can also affect memory. Some survivors remember events in great detail, while others may recall memories gradually over time. This is a normal response to trauma and does not diminish the validity of their experience.
If you’ve experienced sexual assault, intimate partner violence, strangulation, or another form of interpersonal violence, you may have the option of receiving a medical forensic exam. Deciding whether to seek medical care is a personal choice, and you deserve clear information so you can make the decision that is right for you.
A medical forensic exam is designed to address your health, safety, and well-being while offering options for documenting injuries and collecting evidence, if you choose. The exam is provided in a compassionate, trauma-informed environment by specially trained healthcare professionals, often a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) or other forensic nurse.
Throughout the exam, you remain in control. Your healthcare team will explain each step, answer your questions, and ask for your permission before moving forward.
You have the right to:
Your physical and emotional well-being are always the priority.
Every medical forensic exam is unique because every survivor’s needs and choices are different. Depending on your situation and the services you choose, your visit may include:
Your physical and emotional well-being are always the priority.
You'll be welcomed into a private, respectful environment where your healthcare team will explain your options and answer any questions you have.
Your healthcare provider will assess any immediate medical concerns, evaluate injuries, and provide treatment as needed.
You may be asked questions about your health history and what happened. These questions help guide your medical care and determine which services or treatment may be appropriate.
A head-to-toe assessment may be performed to identify and document injuries. The examination is conducted respectfully and only with your consent.
If you choose, forensic evidence may be collected. This may include collecting clothing, swabs, photographs of injuries, or other evidence that could be important if you decide to pursue a criminal investigation. Evidence collection is completely voluntary, and you may decline any portion of the process.
Depending on your needs, you may be offered:
A trained victim advocate can provide emotional support, explain your rights and options, assist with safety planning, and connect you with community resources.
In Tennessee, you do not have to report to law enforcement in order to receive a medical forensic exam. Your healthcare team and advocate can explain your options and any circumstances where reporting may be required by law, such as suspected child abuse or abuse of a vulnerable adult.
Eligible sexual assault medical forensic examinations are provided at no cost to the survivor under Tennessee law.
The length of an exam varies depending on your needs and the services you choose. Your healthcare team will work at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Yes. You may bring a trusted support person, and you may also request a trained victim advocate to be with you during the exam.
Remember, you have choices throughout the process.
Healing looks different for everyone. After your visit, your healthcare team and advocate can help connect you with:
You do not have to go through this alone.
A safety plan is a practical, individualized guide that helps you prepare for different situations and identify strategies to increase your safety.
A safety plan may include:
Your safety plan can change over time as your circumstances change.
A safety plan is a practical, individualized guide that helps you prepare for different situations and identify strategies to increase your safety.
A safety plan may include:
At Home
Consider:
At Work or School
You may want to:
Technology Safety
Technology can be used to monitor, intimidate, or control survivors.
Consider:
Children
If children are involved, consider:
Pets
Many survivors delay leaving because they fear for the safety of their pets.
If possible:
Every survivor’s situation is unique. Please use your best judgment when accessing this website. If someone may be monitoring your device, online activity, or printed materials, consider viewing these resources from a safer device or location. Only print or save information if it is safe to do so.
If you need immediate assistance, call 911. To connect with confidential support in Tennessee, visit our Find Help page.
If you are experiencing abuse, know that you are not alone and help is available. Whether you’re ready to leave, want to stay safer while in the relationship, or simply need someone to talk to, support is available.
You deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and safety.
Support is available 24/7. Find services near you or call a hotline now. It is completely free, confidential, and safe.
Tennessee Domestic Violence Hotline
Tennessee Sexual Assault Hotline
