Have you ever been physically or emotionally dominated by a partner? Has your partner ever insulted you, called you names or shamed you in public? Do you feel isolated or cut off from friends and family? Has your partner ever threatened to hurt you or your children? Do you ever feel frightened or fearful when he or she is around? Do you have thoughts of not being good enough or blame yourself for your partner's behavior?

If you said yes to any of these questions then you may be in an abusive relationship. Abusive relationships have been the hot topic lately, with pop star Rihanna speaking publicly about the violent encounter with her ex-boyfriend, R&B singer Chris Brown. She counseled young woman to get out of relationships at the first signs of violence.

"It was a wake-up call. It was a wake-up call for me. Big time," Rihanna told Diane Sawyer on '20/20,' her first television interview discussing the assault. "I will say that to any young girl who is going through domestic violence, don't react off of love. Eff love. Come out of the situation and look at it in the third person and for what it really is."

Studies reveal that domestic violence and domestic abuse are the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, these injuries to women are more common than automobile accidents, muggings and cancer deaths combined.

If you find yourself caught up in the cycle of domestic abuse or violence, you do not have to remain a victim. You can get out. You just have to make the decision to leave and plan your escape carefully. Here are step-by-step instructions to getting out of an abusive relationship:

Step 1: Call for Help If you have made the decision to leave, you will need help to ensure your safety and the safety of your children. Call on a trusted adult to help and support you. Friends and family who love and care about you can help you break away, and reaching out shows that you are courageous and willing to stand up for yourself. If your partner is physically violent, call 911 immediately. You may need medical attention, and the police will secure your safety. Assault is illegal and so is rape, even if it is done by someone you are dating. File charges and a restraining order to protect yourself.

Step 2: Get Out! The best time to leave is when the abuser is out of the house for several hours. Hire movers or call friends and relatives to help you pack your belongings as quickly as possible. Rent a van or truck so you can move everything at once. Have a friend or neighbor keep a look out for your partner, and if he or she comes home early, leave immediately, even if you haven't finished packing. If you do not have anyone who can help you pack your things, then call the police and request their presence while you remove your belongings.

Step 3: Find a Safe Haven Pick a safe place to stay and do not let the abuser know where you will be. If you are staying with a friend or relative who is known to your partner, you run the risk of putting him or her in danger, so make sure to keep your whereabouts private.

Step 4: Get Help to Begin Healing There are a host of crisis centers, violence help lines and abuse hotlines in your community that have professionally trained staff to listen, understand and help you overcome the emotional and physical scars of abuse. Reach out and get help, because abuse has no place in love.

Whether you are a housewife, lawyer, student, nurse or a global pop sensation like Rihanna, domestic abuse and violence does not discriminate. You are not alone in your struggle to overcome abuse, and you should reach out for help. The choice to leave is yours, so find the courage to put you first and get out!