Abuse can take many forms. Abusive situations can involve emotional, verbal, sexual, or physical abuse.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse occurs in varied situations that result in emotional damage to the victim. due aggressive behaviour against a victim. This behaviour can include name calling, blaming, making threats and criticisms. The abuser may devalue the victim’s feelings, submit them to isolation or accuse them of exaggeration. Furthermore, in abusive situations the abuser may use manipulation such as neglecting or withholding affection from the victim. Emotional abuse it can hard to detect as there are no visible marks or injuries left on the victim.
Physical Abuse and Abusive relationships
Causing intentional harm or injury to another person through violence or physical contact is physical abuse. Forms of physical abuse include hitting, pushing, punching and also throwing objects. It is important to be aware that at some point in your life you may become victim to this form of abuse. Often the victim may know their abuser who may be a family members, partner or friend. Victims of physical abuse may sustain physical injuries from the abuse but also suffer emotionally. Often physical abuse can involve domestic violence which due to the close relationship between the abuser and victim can become worse with time. If you feel worried about domestic abuse, or have been a victim, you can find 24 hour help using free-phone National Domestic Abuse helpline UK. The Brighton and Hove charity Rise supports victims of domestic abuse.
Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse can take many forms the abuser could be anyone within the victims society and community. You may have been victim to verbal abuse and feel the need to speak confidentially about your experience. Verbal abuse may happen only once or be continuous and can be hard to detect as it is often very subtle. Name calling, bullying and destructive criticism are all forms of verbal abuse.
Sexual Abuse
The abuser may use sexual abuse to maintain power and control over the victim. The majority of victims are women, however men suffer too. Sexual abuse is classed as any forced and unwanted sexual activity. Since children are unable to consent this means any sexual activity involving a child is sexual abuse. Most of the time, the victims of sexual abuse know their attacker and sexual abuse often becomes worse over time. As a result victims of sexual abuse may, above all, feel disbelief as well as anger, shame or fear. Victims of sexual abuse may often suffer with poor self-esteem, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Despite the form it takes, abuse can cause lasting mental and emotional harm. Abusive-relationships can have long-term damaging effects on the victim. Feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety, depression, anger, trust problems, or self-destructive behaviour are common for victims of abuse. Victims and survivors of abuse can benefit from counselling to cope with the experience and also related trauma. Family members of abuse survivors can also suffer with anxiety, shame and disbelief and as a result benefit from therapy. Consequently this can help them develop their own healthy and supportive ways of coping.
