Definition of Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is a system of coercive behaviors used by adults or adolescents to establish and maintain power and control over a partner or family member.
What Is Abuse?
Physical Abuse:
Looming over you, getting "in your face," blocking a doorway, grabbing you if you try to leave, kicking, punching, biting, slapping, choking/strangling, threatening to harm you, using weapons, throwing or breaking things, punching walls, driving recklessly, burning, pulling hair, stabbing, trying to confine you, preventing you from seeking medical care, murder.
Mental/Emotional Abuse:
Giving intimidating looks and gestures, playing mind games, twisting the facts around, making you feel like you’re losing your mind, not accepting blame, wrongful accusations, lying, manipulation, insults, humiliation and/or making you feel badly about yourself, not listening to your point of view, being jealous or possessive, excessive paging or calling, intercepting your phone message or emails, not allowing you to have or limiting contact with friends or family, controlling where you go and when, stalking, accusations of cheating, using male privilege. (I'm just not sure what this means)
Verbal Abuse:
Yelling, shouting, swearing, continuously arguing, interrupting, talking over you, put downs, name calling, talking down to you or patronizing you, using loud and threatening tone and language, intimidating you, mocking you, abusive language, threatening to take the children away (He has tortured me with this one.) or report you to the authorities.
Sexual Abuse:
Unwanted sexual touching, vulgar comments, pressure for sex, treating you like an object, forcing you to use or not use birth control, forcing you to get pregnant or to have an abortion, forcing you to have sex with other people, forcing you to participate in pornography, date or marital rape.
Economic Abuse:
Withholding money, making you ask for money, not allowing access to financial accounts, giving you an allowance, not allowing you to work or get an education, putting all bills/credit cards in your name, preventing use of a vehicle.
I'm sick and he's clearly sick. I keep going back. I'm a fucking life time movie. I know I need to stop. I really do. I see how unhealthy it is. Hell now I'm even terrified how unhealthy this is. I mean I could tell you stories about each one of those things. But I know that would be way to much reading for someone to do. I've become those women I used to think were morons. Now I see. Now I get it, I understand what it is to love someone so much your afraid to be with out him. He controls that fear to. I'm scared.
I am going to go to one of these support groups. I clearly need it.
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