Domestic abuse can take on many forms, although, for the most part, it is often still largely seen as violence between couples or families. This does mean that some people aren’t even aware that what they are experiencing is abuse. Being aware of the forms that abuse can take is important; it can validate the experiences of a lot of people, and once they know how to spot the signs, they can begin to take steps to ensure their safety and freedom from the abuse.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is arguably the most well-known form of domestic abuse. It refers to acts of physical violence against the other person, whether that is kicking, slapping, shoving, punching or any other physical act that can cause harm. Often, the perpetrator will try to pretend that it wasn’t done deliberately, that it was an accident, but this is not the case. The violence may or may not leave lingering marks on your body.
Psychological Abuse
While all forms of domestic abuse tend to come down to making the victim feel powerless and the perpetrator powerful, psychological abuse is all about using strategies to make the victim relinquish their control on their own. They are made to feel scared, weak and dependent on the perpetrator. This often means isolating the victim and dismantling any support system they might have had until only the perpetrator is left.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is more nuanced; it does not leave any physical marks on the body, but it can be just as damaging. Emotional abuse is an umbrella term that encompasses a lot of different things like gaslighting, ritual humiliation, degradation, name-calling, shaming, or blaming. It can be incredibly harmful to your mental health.
Sexual Abuse
A relationship does not give either party carte blanche on the other person’s consent to sexual activity; consent can be withdrawn. Sexual abuse can range from rape to assault, forced sex acts, or the distribution of intimate images. Birth control can also become a tool for sexual abuse where one party refuses to or removes a condom during sex, or the other party is dishonest about the birth control measures they have taken.
Financial Abuse
Lastly, financial abuse or economic abuse is when one party takes complete control over the shared finances or resources. This could be giving the victim a strict budget that they have to stick to, or compromising their employment, ruining or throwing away valuables or other sentimental items, taking out loans in the victim’s name or withholding payments on debts. This type of abuse can be one of the hardest to escape because you simply haven’t got the means to do so.
Ending the Cycle
Getting out of an abusive situation and ending the cycle of abuse is not easy. Often leaving an abuser regardless of who they are is incredibly dangerous because they know that they are losing control of you, and that incites rage. The victim needs to take steps to ensure that their abuser can’t contact them; this will sometimes mean the need for legal intervention, often in the form of a non-molestation order.
To Sum Up
Unfortunately, the abuse is sometimes so subtle that the victim doesn’t even know what is happening until it’s too late. Some of the forms of abuse can be really subtle, and it escalates so slowly that it really is easy to dismiss. Getting out might seem scary, and it is, however, making a plan and seeking help can help to ensure your safety.
*Collaborative post*
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