A domestic violence workshop last Tuesday in the Student Center informed students on how to notice the signs of an abusive relationship.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and its importance was recognized as it is most common in intimate relationships, and the signs are very subtle.

Shaina Frost said an abusive relationship typically begins in what is called the “honeymoon period.”

“It’s exactly as it sounds. You meet somebody and hang out with them all of the time and fall in love with them. They treat you really well and if they offend you their going to apologize and everything seems really nice,” said Frost, counselor and outreach coordinator of The Wellspring Alliance.

Frost said controlling behavior begins to surface shortly afterward. Frequent questioning and hiding the other partner’s cell phone or car keys to cut off all contact with other people are some examples of this action.

Karen Foster said this workshop was inspired by the importance of bringing awareness of the issue to students.

“No certain population is immune to it. It happens in marriages and no matter what your economic status is. No one is immune to it,” said Foster, director of the ULM Counseling Center.

The Wellspring is a nonprofit organization that says domestic violence comes in forms of physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, intimidation and threats. The organization defines dating violence as a pattern of behaviors that one person uses to gain power and control over others.

Students who witness or are experiencing relational abuse are encouraged to call their local domestic violence hotline or The Wellspring Crisis Hotline.