Abuse Happens in any kinds of relationship

Domestic violence does not discriminate. Anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim – or perpetrator. It can happen to people who are married, living together or who are dating. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

Domestic violence includes behaviors that physically harm, arouse fear, prevent a partner from doing what they wish or force them to behave in ways they do not want. It includes the use of physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation. Many of these different forms of domestic violence/abuse can be occurring at any one time within the same intimate relationship.
 

Examples include:

Put-downs, name-calling; Jealousy and possessiveness; Isolation from family and friends; Manipulation of children and family members; Threats of “outing,” disclosing private information or secrets; Stalking, including monitoring use of technology;
Intimidation and threats of violence, suicide or homicide; Forced or coerced sex; Physical violence, including use of weapons. 

 Emotional abuse is a way to control another person by using emotions to criticize, embarrass, shame, blame, or otherwise manipulate another person. In general, a relationship is emotionally abusive when there is a consistent pattern of abusive words and bullying behaviors that wear down a person's self-esteem and undermine their mental health.

What's more, mental or emotional abuse, while most common in dating and married relationships, can occur in any relationship including among friends, family members, and co-workers.

Emotional abuse is one of the hardest forms of abuse to recognize. It can be subtle and insidious or overt and manipulative. Either way, it chips away at the victim's self-esteem and they begin to doubt their perceptions and reality. 

Examples Include:

Humiliation; negating; criticizing; Making you feel unworthy; Twisting the truth or blaming you to make it like it’s all your fault; Threats to harm you or harm themselves; Giving you “the silent treatment.”; Name-calling; Derogatory "pet names"; Character assassination; Emotional blackmail. 

 Financial abuse involves controlling a victim's ability to acquire, use, and maintain financial resources. Those who are victimized financially may be prevented from working. They also may have their own money restricted or stolen by the abuser. And rarely do they have complete access to money and other resources. When they do have money, they often have to account for every penny they spend.

Overall, the forms of financial abuse vary from situation to situation. Sometimes an abuser may use subtle tactics like manipulation while other abusers may be more overt, demanding, and intimidating. 

Examples Include:

Limited Access to money; Controlling your spending; Ruining your credit score; Over drafting joint bank accounts; Defensive about finances; Interfering with your work life; Spending money behind your back; Hiding bills; Demanding or withholding sex for money; Selling property with permission; Refusing access to financial information.

Physical abuse is an intentional act causing injury or trauma to another person or animal by way of bodily contact. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but adults can also be victims, as in cases of domestic violence or workplace aggression. Alternative terms sometimes used include physical assault or physical violence, and may also include sexual abuse. Physical abuse may involve more than one abuser, and more than one victim.

Physical abuse in a relationship often starts gradually, such as with a push or a slap, and then becomes progressively worse over time. Physical violence is always illegal.

Example Include:

Slapping, pushing, grabbing, punching, kicking; this can also include neglect (not providing food, electricity, and water or locking you in a room); Bruises; Broken or fractured bones; Scarring; Behavior and criminal issues; Criminal; Suicidal thoughts and/or attempts.
 

Sexual abuse is sexual behavior or a sexual act forced upon a woman, man or child without their consent. Sexual abuse includes abuse of a woman, man or child by a man, woman or child. It does not come from an uncontrollable sex drive, but is a crime committed deliberately with the goal of controlling and humiliating the victim.

Sexual abuse comes in many forms such as:

• Sexual assault – a term including all sexual offenses. Any action or statement with a sexual nature and done without consent from both sides.
• Rape – insertion of a bodily organ or an object into the sex organ of a woman without her consent.
• Sodomy – insertion of a bodily organ or an object into a person's anus or mouth without their consent.
• Attempted rape – attempted insertion of a bodily organ or an object into the sex organ of a woman without her consent.
• Gang rape – rape carried out by more than one attacker.
• Serial rape – repeated incidents of rape carried out by the same attacker over an extended period of time.
• Incest – Sexual abuse or assault at the hands of a family member.

Examples Include:

Unwanted and inappropriate touch from anyone; sexual advances that make you uncomfortable. Saying things like, “well, if you loved me…” is someone trying to control you, with no respect for what you want or how you feel.