These behaviors can take on a number of different forms. Below are six different types of abuse we discuss in our training with new volunteers or employees. While sexual abuse can be a form of physical abuse, we put it in a category by itself because it can include both physical and non-physical components.
It can involve rape or other forced sexual acts, or withholding or using sex as a weapon. Because sex can be so loaded with emotional and cultural implications, there are any number of ways that the feelings around it can be uniquely used for power and control.
Emotional scars can often take longer to heal. Source: rawpixel. Abuse is a traumatic situation. Even the word abuse has a bad connotation. It doesn't matter if you're abused by an intimate partner, parent, or anyone else. Most people are familiar with physical abuse, the scars of domestic abuse, and the pain that it causes, but not as many people are familiar with the emotional pain and mental health challenges that result from other types of abuse.
But, just because you can't see the mental and emotional scars of abuse doesn't mean they don't exist. When it comes to domestic violence, the statistics on abuse are alarming. One in nine men and one in four women have been victims of abuse from an intimate partner. So, when you add in the number of children that are abused by parents or people abused by family members or others, the number increases dramatically. If you are a victim of abuse, you are not alone, since so many people are affected by an abusive partner.
So many youth and families are affected by this issue, which is alarming. The first thing to do if you are in an abusive situation is to get away. If you are a child, people with disabilities, or an elderly person who is being abused by a caregiver, you need to tell someone right away. There are alternatives and you have options even if your abuser tells you that you do not.
That is what they do; they use their power and control to brainwash you into believing that you have no place to go and that nobody will believe you or help you.
This is absolutely false in all cases. Some people stay in abusive relationships because they believe that there is no help out there, but this is not the case at all. There is help for anyone that wants it. No matter what, if you are being abused, someone will help you.
If you cannot get away from the person long enough to get help, you can contact someone online that can help. There are professionals that can get you the help you need no matter what is going on. You can work with individuals from the National Domestic Violence Hotline to create a safety plan for yourself. Safety planning allows you to identify ways to protect yourself in your relationship or as you leave it. A safety plan is also necessary if you have kids and need to figure out a way to get everyone away from an abuser.
If you are afraid your internet is being monitored, you can still reach out to the national domestic violence hotline as well. They will be able to help you stay protected even if someone is checking up on your social media usage. It is important to be aware of what you do online in general, since it is hard to erase each search term or website that you visit. Be aware of this when you are browsing through social media sites and as you surf the internet, especially when you are afraid your internet is being regularly spied on, or if there was a period of time when it was.
And, it doesn't matter if you were recently abused or if the abuse happened decades ago. The scars of domestic abuse can affect you for many years, even after the abuse has stopped. There are treatments that can help you overcome the trauma that you experienced.
Below we'll go over common forms of abuse. Physical abuse is the form of domestic violence that most people are familiar with. It can include any type of physical harm to another person such as:.
Mental or emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence when a partner uses mind games to control their loved one. Some of the tactics used include:. Sexual abuse is not really about sex but about power and control. When a person forces their partner to perform any kind of sexual acts or sexual behavior without their consent, it is domestic violence in the form of sexual abuse.
Some of these are:. Child abuse is also a form of domestic violence. It can include psychological, sexual, or physical mistreatment of a child. This can be done by the parent or any caregiver of the child. It may be something that is done to or something withheld from the child that can cause some type of harm.
Any child could be the victim of abuse. Children that are hard of hearing have been found to be at higher risk of abuse. People with disabilities may also be at a greater risk. Child neglect can be complicated and has different categories. They include:. Elder or adult abuse is usually done by family members but can also be done by any caregiver. Similar to children, many elderlies are helpless and susceptible to physical, mental, financial, and sexual abuse or neglect.
The abuse can include things like:. If your partner has control over your finances and withholds money needed or causes you to lose your job, this is financial abuse which can be a form of domestic violence. When one person has control of all the bank accounts and their useage, this can be considered abuse. Some of the examples include:. Bullying is mean or aggressive behavior that involves being overpowered. This can be when a single person picks on another or when a group picks on one or more individuals.
It usually happens on a regular basis and causes the bullied child or adult to be afraid. There are many groups for youth services that actively work against bullying, and the Administration on Children Youth and Families may be able to help with this as well.
Some examples of bullying are:. The abuser may be a loved one such as a husband, wife, or intimate partner. Or they could be a parent or grandparent, a sibling, or another relative. It may also be a teacher, coach, or family friend. It is impossible to tell who an abuser may be because many times they are just like anyone else.
However, there are some risk factors that you can watch for. Many times, abusers are people that have suffered from people abuse in their own past. They may have been cruel to animals or other children when they were young. And, they can have unpredictable behavior. Abusers might believe that they are better than others and suffer from extreme jealousy. They can be known for having a bad temper and being very controlling.
They are likely to be bad at conflict resolution. It's important to remember that it can happen in any relationship and that healthy relationships do not include abuse. You never deserve to be mistreated, online or in person. A stalker can be someone you know, a past partner, or a stranger. While the legal definition of stalking varies from state to state, examples of stalking behavior include:.
Every year, 3. Most people assume that stalkers are strangers, but in reality, three out of four victims of stalking are harassed by someone they know. If you think you may be in danger, contact an emergency service provider to help you reach a safer place, and consider obtaining a protection order to prevent your stalker from coming near you. Understand the risks of contacting law enforcement for your own safety and others, including that the person harassing you may ultimately be arrested and convicted within the criminal legal system.
Take time to write down the dates, times, and places of each incident that occurred, including names and contact information for people who may have witnessed what happened. Examples of such evidence include:. Stalking is a traumatic experience.
These reactions are normal and you should be forgiving of yourself as you heal. It can help to tell a trusted friend or loved one about your experience and work to develop a safety plan. We're here to help! To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history. Heads up! Types of abuse Email Twitter Facebook. Learn about abuse Understanding common types of abuse will better prepare you to identify them when you see them; experiencing even one or two of these warning signs may be a red flag that abuse is present in your own relationship.
Physical abuse. Physical abuse is any intentional, unwanted contact with you or something close to your body, or any behavior that causes or has the intention of causing you injury, disability, or death. Examples of physical abuse include: Scratching, punching, biting, strangling, choking, or kicking. Throwing items at you like a phone, book, shoe, or plate. Pulling your hair. Pushing or pulling you, or forcibly grabbing your clothing.
Threatening to use or using a gun, knife, box cutter, bat, mace, or other weapon against you. Touching any part of you without your permission or consent. Forcing you to have sex or perform a sexual act. Grabbing your face to make you look at them. Preventing you from leaving or forcing you to go somewhere. Steps to consider next include: Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or mentor.
Create a safety plan. Obtain a restraining order. Contact love is respect. Examples of behaviors that qualify as emotional or verbal abuse include: Calling you names or putting you down. Telling you what to do or wear. Yelling or screaming at you. Intentionally embarrassing you in front of others or starting rumors about you. Preventing you from seeing or communicating with friends or family, or threatening to have your children taken away from you.
Damaging your property throwing objects, punching walls, kicking doors, etc. Using online communities or communications to control, intimidate, or humiliate you. Blaming abusive or unhealthy behavior on you or your actions. Being jealous of outside relationships or accusing you of cheating. Stalking you or your loved ones. Threatening to harm you, your pet s , or people in your life. Threatening to harm themselves to keep you from ending the relationship.
Gaslighting you by pretending not to understand or refusing to listen to you; questioning your recollection of facts, events, or sources; trivializing your needs or feelings; or denying previous statements or promises.
Threatening to expose personal details, such as your sexual orientation or immigration status. What to do if you've experienced emotional abuse Emotional abuse may not always cause visible harm, but it does cause emotional pain and scarring and may lead to physical violence eventually.
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