If He Will Strangle You, He May Kill You

There are few acts more dangerous, more intimate, and more predictive of future lethal violence than this one:Strangulation. Let’s stop minimizing

There are few acts more dangerous, more intimate, and more predictive of future lethal violence than this one:
Strangulation.

Let’s stop minimizing it.
Let’s stop calling it “choking” like it’s some common disagreement gone too far.
Let’s stop acting like someone putting their hands around your neck is anything other than an attempt to erase you.

If he will strangle you, he may kill you.

And here’s what many people don’t know:
👉🏽 It takes more physical pressure to strangle someone than it does to pull a gun trigger.
👉🏽 In fact, it takes just 4 pounds of pressure to pull a trigger.
👉🏽 But it takes 20–33 pounds of pressure to manually strangle someone—which means he meant to do it.
He chose it.
And if he’s done it once, research shows he’s more likely to do it again—and next time, it may be fatal.

Strangulation is a warning sign.

It is a red flag waving like fire.

When someone puts their hands around your neck, they’re not just trying to scare you.
They’re trying to show you that they control when you breathe.
That they can silence you at will.
That they can take your life—and they want you to know it.

This is not “just” abuse.
This is attempted homicide.

Let’s name it clearly.

Strangulation increases your risk of being murdered by 750%.

Yes, you read that right.
If someone has strangled you—even once—you are 7.5 times more likely to be killed by them in the future.

This is based on data, science, and Survivor testimony.

So if someone has:

Put their hands around your neck
Covered your nose and mouth to stop your breathing
“Played” with your airways during an argument or during sex without your clear and sober consent
Pinned you down and whispered things like “you better stop breathing”

Please don’t brush it off.
Please don’t minimize it.
Please don’t explain it away.
Tell someone.
Call a hotline.
Talk to a domestic violence advocate.
Make a plan.

You are not overreacting.
You are not weak.
You are not broken.

You are someone whose life is worthy of being saved.
Right now. Not later. Not when he’s calmer.
Now.