What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic Abuse is the physical, emotional, verbal, sexual or financial abuse of one person by another with whom they have or have had an intimate or family-type relationship. It arises from the misuse of power & control by one person over another. It is rarely a one-off event, but tends to escalate in frequency and severity over time.
Physical abuse can include;
- Slapping
- Punching
- Pinching
- Beating
- Kicking
- Assault with a weapon
- Strangulation
- Suffocation
- Destroying your possessions
Emotional Abuse can include such things as;
- Pressure tactics
- Sulking
- Constant criticism
- Being told that you are useless, ugly or worthless
- Threats to kill or harm you, your children or your pets
- Threats to commit suicide
- Threats to take the children away or report you to Children’s Services
- Embarrassing you in public
- Intimidation
- Bullying
- Being locked in or kept in isolation away from family and friends
- Not being allowed money, food, sleep or freedom
- Being controlled
- Stalking and harassing you especially after separation
Verbal Abuse can include;
- Being called names
- Being constantly shouted at
- Making threats
Sexual abuse can include;
- Being forced to have sex against your will
- Being made to perform acts that you are not happy with
- Being forced to watch or make pornography or take pornographic pictures
- Being forced to have sex with or in front of other people
- Being degraded on the basis of your sexual orientation
Financial Abuse can include;
- Forcing you to take out loans or debts
- Withholding money
- Forcing you to beg for money
- Not allowing you to earn your own money or have access to joint accounts
- Making you account for any money spent – produce receipts or bills
- Constant monitoring or questioning of your finance
The lists above are not exhaustive but just a few of the ways in which some people are affected by domestic abuse!
Abuse in the home is more widespread than you think. It affects men & women of all ages, ethnicities, orientations and income levels, regardless of ability.
It is not easy to accept that a loved one can behave so aggressively and because you cannot explain the behaviour, you assume that it is your fault. You are not to blame for your partner’s behaviour. Everyone has the right to live life free from threats, violence and abuse and help is available. You are NOT alone!
- Between 1st April 2009 and 31st March 2010 ESDAS received 1811 referrals
- We dealt with 13,542 phone calls
- We had 603 face-to-face meetings with clients
