If your partner has ever choked you, grabbed you by the neck, or restricted your breathing in any way - it may be domestic abuse.
If your boyfriend or girlfriend has ever choked you, grabbed you by the neck, or restricted your breathing in any way - you may be in a toxic or abusive relationship.
What strangulation is
Strangulation happens when pressure is applied to the neck. This pressure can lead to the blood vessels and/or airway in the neck being squashed or restricted.
This results in difficulty breathing and/or a reduction in the circulation of the blood, reducing oxygen to the brain.
What 'choking' is
'Choking' is sometimes used as another word for strangulation.
When strangulation (external pressure to the neck) is used during consensual sex, people call it 'choking' or 'breath play'.
Choking or breath play during sex is never safe and there is no way to do it safely. Also using a "safe word" for choking, breath play is not safe either as low levels of oxygen reaching our brains will impact our capacity to use the "safe word" during choking and breath play when we need to.
For more help, read the IFAS guidance - Institute for Addressing Strangulation
If you need help or more information
There a number of organisation that can help: