5 Types of Abuse

Physical abuse is when the abuser:

Emotional/psychological abuse can be when your partner:

gets jealous and possessive all the time, accuses you of having affairs
isolates you by alienating your friends and family or stops you from seeing them
checks up on you all the time – constantly calls, emails or texts you, demands to know where you have been and who you have been with and follows or stalks you
controls where you go, what you wear and when you do things
has temper tantrums/angry outbursts where they frighten you by yelling, swearing, or doing things that scare and upset you like smashing your things or damaging property
plays mind games, is silent and ignores you, lies about, minimises or denies the abuse that happened, blames or makes you responsible for the abuse
constantly criticises or insults you or humiliates or puts you down in front of others
threatens to harm you, the children, family members, and pets or commit suicide if you try to leave or threatens you with authorities, eg Work and Income, Child, Youth & Family
uses other forms of intimidation to make you afraid like looks, body gestures or actions such as displaying or getting out weapons
makes you do all the work around the house and with the children
demands that they have their own way all the time, makes all the rules in the house and does not let you have a say or make decisions

Sexual abuse is:

rape
forcing you to do any sexual acts
making you do sexual things that upset or embarrass you
sexual harassment such as sexist comments and/or unwanted sexual touching or talk
forcing you to watch pornography, pose for sexual pictures or filming you without your consent
having to give in to sex to stop a fight, or get money for food, bills etc
getting you out of it with alcohol or drugs so they can have sex with you
loaning you out to his mates for sex

Economic abuse is when your partner:

takes your money and belongings
keeps money for themselves which they may gamble away or spend on drugs or alcohol and leaves you struggling to buy necessities
for you and the children
forces you to work , does not let you get paid work or hassles you so much at work you can’t keep your job
checks up on and demands you account for every cent spent
puts debts and bills in your name
forces you to illegally apply for a benefit

Spiritual abuse includes:

stopping you from expressing your spiritual or religious beliefs or from participating in spiritual or religious practises such as prayer,
mediation or attending church/temple
ridiculing/putting down your beliefs
stopping or obstructing you from pursuing your dreams or passions in life
not allowing you any individual hobbies, interests or pleasures in life
not being able to be you
anything he/she says that attacks and undermines your sense of self and identity as a sou