Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviours used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Abuse can come in many forms: physical abuse (hitting, pushing), sexual abuse (unwanted touching), emotional/mental abuse (controlling your decisions or verbally hurting you), verbal/emotional manipulation and neglect - this list isn't comprehensive but gives you an idea of what might fall under the umbrella term of "abuse." Domestic violence includes behaviours 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.

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

What is Emotional Abuse?

Emotional abuse, this kind of abuse is about making you feel bad about yourself, or afraid. Emotional abuse can include:

• name calling
• belittling
• constant criticising
• making you feel bad about yourself
• making you feel guilty
• making you feel afraid; like someone will hurt you or the abuser will get mad if something goes wrong (example: not cleaning the house correctly) or that they would leave if something went wrong (example: not getting a good grade on a test)

Understanding Economic & Financial Abuse

Economic and financial abuse is another form of domestic violence that can leave you feeling isolated, confused, and even more dependent on your abusive partner. Economic abuse often starts with the abuser asking for money or taking it without permission. In some cases, abusers will ask their partners to give them money instead of a paycheck.

Some abusers may use intimidation or threats in order to get what they want out of an abusive relationship. For example, they might tell their partners that if they don't give them all the money in the bank account then they'll lose their jobs or be evicted from their home. Other times abusers will take control over bank accounts and credit cards without telling their partners about it until later on down the road, when bills need to be paid off but there isn't enough money left over from each month's earnings.

The Cycle of Violence in Domestic Abuse

The Cycle of Violence describes a common pattern in abusive relationships. It's also known as the cycle of abuse, or the violence/abuser cycle. The cycle of violence is a series of behaviours that happen in an abusive relationship, often repeating over and over again. This may include:

• The tension building phase - when one partner gets angry, there may be fights or arguments between them.
• The violent outburst phase - if things do not go the abuser's way, they may become violent with their partner by yelling, hitting or threatening them with weapons (e.g., knives). This may also include verbal abuse like name calling or threats to harm pets or property if they leave the home (which can lead to homelessness).
• The remorseful phase – after being violent towards their partner(s), abusers will often try to get back into their good graces by apologising for what happened during this phase and promising it won't happen again (although studies show that some abusers may be incapable of controlling themselves once provoked enough).

Warning Signs of Abuse

There are many warning signs that can help you identify if your relationship is unhealthy or abusive, including the examples below.

• Physical abuse: This can be a slap, punch or kick; sexual assault; pushing, shoving or restraining you from leaving.
• Emotional abuse: This includes constant criticism and name-calling; controlling behaviour such as deciding who you see or where you go; extreme jealousy and/or possessiveness which makes it difficult for you to have any privacy at all in your life (including confiding in friends).
• Economic and financial abuse: This includes making all of the decisions about money in the relationship (even if this means not allowing you access to yours); preventing you from working outside the home so that he can control how much money there is coming in while insisting on spending what little they do have lavishly on himself instead of saving for emergencies; refusing to let go of any assets so that if there were ever any problems with finances later down the road then she would still need him around because no one else would want her now either way once they found out just how bad things really were financially between them."

Abusive behaviour is a choice, not a reflection of you. It doesn't matter what kind of stress he or she is under at work or home. Your partner’s abusive behaviour is not your fault, and it doesn’t mean that there's anything "wrong" with you. If you are in an abusive relationship, don't blame yourself! You are not alone—there are people who can help you. No matter what the circumstances are behind a relationship, abusive behaviour is always a choice—because abusers have options other than choosing to hurt someone else.