Aggressive behaviour…Being or feeling trapped…Unhealthy jealousy…Sexual manipulation...Emotional exploitation…ABUSE

Abuse comes in many different forms. The most common type of abuse known as domestic violence is physical abuse, but this is only one form of abuse.

The first type of abuse discussed is Control.

Controlling behavior is a way to maintain dominance over you. The control is often subtle and pervasive. Control may be:

• Following or checking where you are travelling to and with whom.
• Monitoring and checking phone calls.
• Limiting your choice in clothing or hairstyles. This can include forcing you to dress in a specific way.
• Calling to check up on you or coming home unexpectedly to check on you. This may initially start as what appears to be a gesture of love, but quickly becomes a gesture of jealousy or possessiveness.
• Forcing or encouraging you, that you will not survive without them (abuser).
• Using children to control you as a parent, by making threats towards hurting your children should you as the mother leave or report abuse.
  The second type of abuse discussed is Physical Abuse.

Physical abuse is any physically aggressive behavior or threat of physical abuse.

This abuse may be:

• Hitting, kicking, biting, slapping, shaking, pushing, pulling, punching, choking, beating, scratching, pinching, pulling hair, stabbing, shooting, drowning, burning, hitting with an object, threatening with a weapon, or threatening to physically assault.
• Interruption and deprivation of sleep or food, denying money, transportation, or help when you are sick or injured. This can include locking you into or out of the house.
• Abusing, injuring, or threatening to injure others like children, pets, property that are special to you.
• Being trapped in a room or having the exit blocked, by being held down against your will.

The third type of abuse discussed is Sexual Abuse.

Sexual abuse is using sex or forcing sex. Having consented to sexual activity in the past does not indicate current consent. Sexual abuse may involve both verbal and physical behavior. Sexual abuse may include:

• Using force, coercion, guilt, or manipulation around sex. This may include making you have sex with others, have unwanted sexual experiences, or be involuntarily involved in prostitution.
• Exploiting you when you are unable to make an informed decision about involvement in sexual activity because of being asleep, intoxicated, drugged, disabled, too young, too old, or dependent upon or afraid of the perpetrator.
• Laughing or making fun of another’s sexuality or body, making offensive statements, insulting, or name-calling in relation to the victim’s sexual preferences/behavior.

The fourth type of abuse discussed is Emotional Abuse.

Emotional abuse is any behavior that exploits your vulnerability, insecurity, or character. This may include the following:

• Insulting or criticizing you to undermine your self-confidence. This can include public humiliation.
• Distorting reality. The abuser can deny the abuse occurred and tell you, that you are making up the abuse.
• Telling you that you are mentally unstable or incompetent.
• Forcing you to take drugs or alcohol.
• Not allowing you to practice your own religious beliefs

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