Abuse occurs when people mistreat or misuse other people, showing no concern for their integrity or innate worth as individuals, and in a manner that degrades their well being.
Abusers either don't realize that what they are doing is wrong, cannot stop themselves (because of impulse control, substance abuse problems, or brain damage), or simply don't care about the damage they do.
Abuse may occur only once, it can involve various tactics of subtle manipulation or it may occur frequently while escalating over a period of months or years. In any form, abuse profoundly affects individual health and well-being putting individuals at risk of serious behavioural, cognitive, emotional or mental disorders.
Abuse is not the easiest thing in the world to recognize, even if it is happening to you directly. Not everyone who is being abused understands that what they are experiencing is abuse. Some may recognize that something isn't right about how they are treated, but they may be afraid to speak up and name it as abuse for fear of retribution from their abuser. The following list describes various interactions that people might have that are examples of abuse. If one or more of these things is happening to you, there is very good chance that you are being abused.
· Being physically, sexually, or emotionally hurt and/or violated by your partner on a regular basis.
· Being called hurtful names and/or being put down by partner on a regular basis.
· Being controlled by partner. For instance, if your partner tells you that you are not allowed to have friends, leave the house without his permission, or tells you that you are not allowed to pursue your own goals growth, such as attending school or finding work.
· Becoming more withdrawn so that you do not spend much time with others who may clue in to the fact that abuse is happening to you.
· Finding yourself making excuses for partner’s bad and harmful behaviour (perhaps so that you won't have to accept the fact that abuse is happening).
· Recognizing that your relationship has a pattern or cycle in which something abusive occurs, you tell partner that you will not tolerate t