These are the six main forms of domestic abuse, with a brief explanation of how they can look. It is important to remember, that in MANY abusive relationships, there is no physical assault or violence. Emotional and Psychological abuse Emotional abuse is behaviour that deliberately undermines someone’s confidence leading them to believe they are stupid, a bad person, a bad parent or even that they are going crazy or are insane. It is used by perpetrators to take away a person’s independence, confidence and self-esteem, which helps the perpetrator maintain power and control in the relationship. Psychological abuse signs and symptoms often start small as the perpetrator “tests the waters” to see what their partner will accept. Before long though, the psychological abuse builds into something that can be frightening and threatening. It includes bullying and gaslighting and can lead to anxiety, chronic depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Verbal abuse Verbal abuse is when a perpetrator uses words as a weapon to cause significant damage. It is a key feature of emotionally abusive relationships and can lead to physical violence. A perpetrator may also use silence and withdrawal as a means of abuse and punishment. Some of the signs can include: name calling; continuous criticism; yelling, insulting or swearing; telling a partner what to wear; preventing a partner from seeing their friends and/or family; blaming a partner for the problems in the relationship; comparing a partner to others to undermine their self-esteem and self-worth; making a partner feel guilty; intimidating; and threatening suicide. Physical assault Physical abuse is when a person uses physical force or violence against another person. Physical abuse can include pushing, shoving, hitting, punching, slapping or shaking; kicking; hair-pulling; spitting or biting; punching; attempted strangulation, driving dangerously; sleep and food deprivation and abuse of children or pets. … Continue reading The Different Forms of Domestic Abuse