TYPES OF ABUSE

No matter what form it takes, abuse is a misuse of power. Abuse takes advantage of the bonds of intimacy, trust and dependency to hurt and exploit. The abuse you are experiencing may encompass one or more than one of the following categories:

Physical Abuse
This form of abuse can include burning, biting, mutilating, hitting, punching, beating, hair pulling, shoving and slapping. Weapons may be involved and consequences as extreme as murder can result.

Verbal Abuse
Negative words can be powerfully destructive even though they leave no physical wounds. Threats, insults, name-calling, swearing, shouting and unjust blaming and accusing can fuel constant anxiety and destroy confidence and self esteem.

Emotional Abuse
Related to verbal abuse and equally devastating is emotional (also called psychological) abuse. Examples include the withholding of love, sympathy or understanding, inadequate physical or emotional care, isolation, intimidation, extreme jealousy, property damage, and threats to commit suicide if you leave the relationship.

Financial Abuse
This form of abuse can range from stealing money to withholding it to denying access to employment opportunities. Preventing access to household financial information is another way of trying to use money – or rather, the lack or loss of it – to exert power and control.

Sexual Abuse
Any incident of forced sexual contact, from unwanted touching to harassment to rape, constitutes sexual abuse. Because of its intimate nature, sexual abuse leaves a deep sense of violation that can take years to heal.

Spiritual Abuse
Belittling your faith or preventing you from attending the church, synagogue or temple of your choice is an often overlooked form of abuse. It involves the attempt to control something that is very important to you: something that lies at the core of your being, at the very center of your life.

Upon reading this list, you may recognize the kind(s) of abuse in your life. Remember, awareness is the first step toward change. You can only break free from abuse once you understand the powerful impact it is having on you – and your children.

For a Power and Control Wheel that also describes various types of abuse, click here.