Forms of violence
Violence is a serious issue that affects individuals, families, and communities. It can have long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects on survivors, and it can also have broader societal impacts, such as increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, and increased rates of crime.
A fear of your partner, feeling like you have to walk on eggshells around them, you are constantly watching what you say and do to avoid a blow-up.
Such signs may suggest that your relationship is unhealthy and abusive or that there is a risk of abuse in the relationship. Other signs include a partner who belittles you and/or tries to control you. Having feelings of self-loathing, helplessness, and desperation are also signs of an unhealthy relationship.
It's good to remember that in any relationship, there are disagreements and disputes every now and again, but they should not make you feel fearful.
Violence often happens in many forms at the same time. Physical control, psychological pressure, sexual exploitation, verbal humiliation, and economic dependency can all reinforce each other.
You may not have visible injuries. You may have travelled voluntarily. You may have trusted someone at the beginning. None of this cancels what happened. Even if the abuse was not visible, its impact can be lasting, affecting your emotions, thoughts, and sense of safety.
If parts of your experience reflect what you have read here, you are not alone.What happened to you is not your fault, and you deserve support and protection.
Misconceptions about what is considered acceptable behaviour are common due to the multiple forms of violence and the subtle nature of abuse.
Giving the phenomenon a name has helped people recognize the problem and encouraged those experiencing it to talk about it, report it, and seek help.
Abuse comes in multiple forms
Violence can take various forms - physical, mental, sexual, economic, and digital abuse - to exert power and control over others. It can occur in any relationship, regardless of gender, ethnicity, social status, or education.
Recognising violence may be challenging initially. Often, they are not manifested purely in one form but a combination of many and manifest in multiple ways simultaneously. The list and introduction to different forms give you a starting point to understand them.
