Abuse

Here, you can find a wide range of information on abuse covering different types of domestic abuse and substance abuse. This is useful for anyone who is looking to educate themselves on such a broad topic that isn't spoken about often.

Domestic Abuse

It is a common misconception that domestic abuse is only physical. Many people are unaware of the numerous forms of abuse that can be carried out by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. Domestic abuse affects people of every class, gender, level of wealth, geography, age, race, disability and sexuality. The violence can begin at any stage of the relationship and may continue after the relationship has ended. It is a pattern of controlling and aggressive behaviour that is intentional and calculated to exercise power within a relationship.

Remember abuse is never your fault.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Coercive control

A pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

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‘Honour’ based violence

A crime or incident which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family.

For example, (but not limited to) physical abuse, strict monitoring, forced marriage, forced suicide, honour killing (murder).

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Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there's no medical reason for this to be done.

Other common names include: female circumcision/cutting, sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez, khitan.

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Forced marriage

A marriage in which one or more of the parties is married without their consent or against their will. A marriage can also become a forced marriage even if both parties enter with full consent if one or both are later forced to stay in the marriage against their will.

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Psychological and emotional abuse

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

Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that's seen in abusive relationships. It's the act of manipulating a person by forcing them to question their thoughts, memories, and the events occurring around them. A victim of gaslighting can be pushed so far that they question their own sanity

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Physical

Physical abuse is deliberately hurting another person causing injuries. It does not include accidents. Physical abuse is often the most visible type of abuse as it leads to signs on a person’s body like bruises, broken bones, cuts or burns and in severe cases can lead to serious life-changing injuries or death.

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https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/physical-abuse/

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually they don’t want to do. It can also refer to behaviour that impacts a person’s ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including oral sex, rape or restricting access to birth control and condoms.

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Harassment

Harassment is unwanted behaviour from someone else that makes you feel distressed, humiliated or threatened. Examples of harassment include: unwanted phone calls, texts, letters, emails or visits, abuse (verbal or online), physical gestures or facial expressions, images and graffiti.

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Stalking

A pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim- for example: making unwanted communication, consistently sending gifts (e.g. flowers), damaging property, physical or sexual assault.

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Online or digital abuse

Many relationships that begin romantically can quickly become controlling, with partners reading emails, checking texts and locations of social media posts. Digital dating abuse is the use of technologies such as texting and social networking to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behaviour is a form of verbal or emotional abuse perpetrated online.

In a healthy relationship, all communication is respectful whether in person, online or by phone. It is never ok for someone to do or say anything that makes you feel bad, lowers your self-esteem or manipulates you

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Domestic violence or abuse

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.

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Financial or material abuse

Controlling a victim's ability to acquire, use, and maintain financial resources. Those who are victimised 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.

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Modern slavery

The recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation.

It can take many forms, including forced sexual exploitation, domestic slavery or forced labour on farms, in construction, shops, bars, nail bars, car washes or manufacturing.

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Discriminatory abuse

This is directed at a person because of their race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexuality, appearance or cultural background.

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Organisational or institutional abuse

This is based on abuse in the workplace. For example, not paying employees equal income, giving one gender more responsibility compared to the opposite gender.

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List of helpful sites for all types of domestic abuse:

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

(Alcohol and Substance Abuse does not fall under the umbrella term of domestic abuse)

Substance abuse occurs when you use alcohol, prescription medicine, and other legal and illegal substances too much or in the wrong way. Substance abuse differs from addiction. Many people with substance abuse problems are able to quit or can change their unhealthy behaviour.

Addiction

Addiction is a disease. It means you can’t stop using even when your condition causes you harm.

Both legal and illegal drugs have chemicals that can change how your body and mind work. They can give you a pleasurable “high,” ease your stress, or help you avoid problems in your life.

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Alcohol

Affects everyone differently. But if you drink too much and too often, your chance of an injury or accident goes up. Heavy drinking also can cause liver and other health problems or lead to a more serious alcohol disorder.

If you’re a man and you drink more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 in a week, you’re drinking too much.

For women, heavy drinking means more than three drinks in one day or more than seven drinks a week.

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Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking is a form of substance abuse.

Nicotine is an addictive substance inhaled through cigarette smoke. It gives the initial rush or calm when you first inhale. Addiction to nicotine is as pervasive and difficult to stop as other drugs. It's just legal and therefore easier to access.

Along with the addiction, smoking also has other devastating effects on the cardiovascular system, the development of cancers, etc. to the smoker and those around them.

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