What is domestic abuse?
Not sure if you’re being abused?
Domestic abuse is abuse that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship. It can be carried out by a current or ex-partner, their family members, your own family members, or the parent of your child. An abuser might involve other family members, friends or members of the community in their abuse.
Abuse is abuse, whether it consists of a single incident or a long-term pattern of behaviour.
Many women experience domestic abuse without ever being physically harmed – controlling & coercive behaviour, emotional abuse, honour-based abuse and economic abuse can be just as destructive as physical abuse.
This list of questions might help you to spot the signs of abuse:
- Are you told what to wear, where to go, who to see?
- Is someone controlling your money, or making sure you are dependent on them for everyday essentials like food?
- Is someone threatening to have you deported or using your immigration status to control you?
- Is someone monitoring or tracking your movements or messages?
- Are you pressured to have sex when you don’t want to?
- Are you walking on eggshells to avoid making someone angry?
- Is someone constantly putting you down or making you feel small, scared or guilty?
- Is someone controlling your access to medicine, devices or care that you need?
- Is someone using anger or intimidation to frighten and control you?
- Is someone playing mind games and making you doubt your judgement?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be experiencing domestic abuse. You don’t have to deal with abuse alone. We are here to support you – find out how we can help.