What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is any kind of threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse from a partner(s), ex-partner or family member. Domestic abuse can take many forms, including psychological, emotional, physical, sexual, financial abuse as well as coercive and controlling behaviour. This includes abuse relating to sexual orientation or gender identity.
You may be experiencing domestic abuse if any of the following apply to you:
Physical abuse
• Have they ever physically hurt you or thrown an object at you?
• Have they ever locked you out of the house or kept you anywhere against your will?
• Have they ever stopped you from accessing medical treatment or hid medication from you
Sexual abuse
• Have they ever pressured or forced you into having sex?
• Have they ever disrespected a safe word, boundary or request for safer sex?
• Do they speak about you in a derogatory way or share sexual content of you without your consent?
• Do they coerce you into using chems/drugs when having sex?
Identity Abuse
• Have they threatened to out you without your consent to family, friends, work, religious or community groups in regards to your sexuality, gender identity or HIV status?
• Have they threatened to withdraw your access to child(ren) because of your gender identity and/or sexual orientation?
• Do they try to prevent you from expressing your gender identity or refuse to relate to you in your chosen gender identity?
Coercion, intimidation and threats
• Do they make threats to hurt you or your loved ones?
• Do they threaten to leave you or harm themselves if you leave or seek help?
• Do they say that no one will believe you if you ask for support?
• Have they destroyed your property or belongings?
• Do they do anything else that frightens you or makes you fearful of them?
Emotional abuse
• Do they put you down and make you feel bad about yourself?
• Do they make you think that you are crazy, play mind games, gaslight or humiliate you?
Using isolation
• Do they try to control what you do, who you see or talk to?
• Do they monitor your social media or track your phone?
• Do they get jealous of you talking to friends or family?
Financial abuse
• Do they control all of the finances or stop you from working?
• Have they made you take out credit cards, loans or overdrafts in your name?
• Do they make you feel guilty, tell you that everything is your fault or blame you for the abuse?
• Do they tell you that you’re stupid or that nobody will believe you if you speak to anybody about the abuse?