What is Domestic Abuse?

“Domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and/or violent behaviour, including sexual violence, by a partner or ex-partner. Domestic abuse is overwhelmingly experienced by women and perpetrated by men. It doesn’t matter how old someone is, what race or ethnicity they are, what class they are, whether or not they are disabled, or whether they have children – anyone can be a victim of abuse.” – Scottish Women’s Aid

Domestic Abuse can include:

• Physical Abuse
• Emotional and Verbal Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Financial Abuse
• Coercive Control
• Digital Abuse

Often, when people think of domestic abuse they think of physical violence, but domestic abuse is often so much more than that. No one kind of abuse is more serious than the other, and many women report that the emotional abuse and coercive control they experienced was the most harmful for them.

Domestic abuse isn’t a one off – it usually happens again and again, with the abuser trying various different tactics to gain control. Domestic abuse can continue after the relationship has ended.

Domestic abuse is never acceptable. No one asks to be abused. No one deserves to be abused. There is no excuse for domestic abuse.

If you are unsure on what you or someone you love are experiencing is domestic abuse, please do not hesitate to get in touch and have a chat.