Abusive Relationships
You are not reading this by accident. You are likely concerned that either you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship. Please take the time to read these materials and use our resource links.
We have added this material to our website because all too many of our advice line questions from men, women, boys and girls and people of all nations and backgrounds have had some component of abuse. This is here to help you get help as quickly as possible.
Abuse defined: “Abuse is a pattern of coercive control that one person exercises over another. Battering is a behavior that physically harms, arouses fear, prevents a partner from doing what they wish or forces them to behave in ways they do not want.
Battering includes the use of physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation.” (source National Domestic Violence Hotline)
There are four main types of intimate partner violence (relationship abuse):
- Physical violence: The use of force.
- Sexual violence: The application of force, compulsion or contact.
- Threats of physical or sexual violence: Any form of communication of abusive intent.
- Psychological / emotional violence: Trauma to the victim by acts, threats or coercion.
Here are five more valuable pages:
Details of the four main types of abuse
You may be in an abusive relationship if – checklists
How you can help yourself if you are being abused
How you can help a friend or relative who is being abused
Examples of abuse from The Positive Way Advice Line
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The United States National Domestic Abuse Hotline is 1-800-799-7233
Some estimates say almost 1 million incidents of violence occur against a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend per year in the US alone. There are no reliable estimates for the global extent of the relationship abuse problem.
• Wife Needs Friends • Types of Abuse • Abusive Checklists • Help for the Abused • Help Others • Examples of Abuse •
