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Your partner apologizes and says the hurtful behavior won't happen again. But you fear it will. At times you wonder whether you're imagining the abuse. Yet the emotional or physical pain is real. If this sounds familiar, you might be in a relationship that involves domestic violence.

Domestic violence happens between people who are or have been in a close relationship. Domestic violence also is called intimate partner violence. This type of violence can take many forms, including emotional, sexual and physical abuse, stalking, and threats of abuse.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone. But it's most often directed toward women. Domestic violence can happen in heterosexual and same-sex relationships.

Abusive relationships involve one person having power and control over the other person. An abuser uses threatening, hurtful words and behaviors to control a partner. Early in the relationship, an abusive partner may seem attentive, generous and protective. But later, that attention can become controlling and scary. Although the abuse might happen only once in a while at first, it may get more intense and happen more often over time.