What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse can include physical abuse, emotional and mental abuse and sexual abuse. It can involve a range of behaviours.
Domestic abuse can be perpetrated by a partner or an ex-partner and can include physical abuse (hitting, kicking, slapping, punching or any form of physical violence or threatened violence ), sexual abuse (sexual acts which are carried out against a person's will, forced to have sex/rape or to take part in any sexual act you don't want to) and mental and emotional abuse (such as threatening to 'out' you to family or friends, verbal abuse, homophobic/biphobic/transphobic abuse, keeping you short of money or isolating you from friends)
Children can also be affected by domestic abuse. Children can often witness or be subjected, or used in abuse. They can experience stress and fear and may suffer a range of adverse effects, including being hurt themselves, poor health and an array of psychological difficulties.
Domestic abuse involves a range of behaviours.
You don't need to experience all these forms of abuse to be experiencing domestic abuse.
Even if you feel you only experience one of these on a regular basis, this can still be domestic abuse.