Abuse
Delhi schools: Inhalant Abuse
Foul Play - Abuse of officials
Child Abuse- A tale of shame and horror
Over-The-Counter Drug Abuse High Among Teens
Abusive Relationships
Millions of women and men are in abusive relationships. Some acknowledge this, some are unaware and some are unable to leave. Recognising the signs of abuse or acknowledging the type of abuse can be difficult. There are four types of abuse; neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse which are difficult to define and recognise, especially if the abuser insists it isn’t abuse, swears you to secrecy or threatens to harm you if they reveal the abuse.
Surviving an abusive relationship is hard and even harder when you have been isolated from your friends and family, or if you feel you deserve to be treated that way (which is never the case). Recognising the signs of abuse is the key: once you are aware of what the abuser is doing, surviving and getting away from the abuse becomes easier.
With neglect, abuse occurs when the partner doesn’t allow access to or provide food, shelter, safety, clothes or medical treatment. In most cases it is about what the abusers don’t do as opposed to what they do. This is an abusive relationship.
Physical abuse can be the easiest of all four types of abuse to spot because the clues can be obvious when someone hits, beats, burns, kicks or stabs you. However, there may not be evidence when someone grabs your arm, shakes you or pushes you around – but that IS physical abuse.
With sexual abuse, it can occur in any form: touching, intercourse or exploitation of your body. This includes taking pictures of you for sexual purposes, asking you to touch someone else’s genitals or making sexual references to your body. Being forced to touch or have sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend against your will is sexual abuse. It is also abuse if your partner has sex with you while you are under the influence and cannot make a sound decision. Taking advantage is a form of sexual abuse, this also includes underage sex. Teenagers and children who are not of legal consent and who have sexual intercourse are abusing one another. The effect of this lasts a lifetime.
Emotional abuse is perhaps the most difficult to notice and identify. It happens when someone threatens or humiliates you: this includes calling you names, putting you down, insulting you or breaking your things. Control is a huge part of emotional abuse and involves chronic anger, jealousy, accusations and distrust. Emotional abuse can often be mistaken for passionate or intense love, a mistake often made by the abuser’s family and friends.
11 warning signs of abuse:
1. Constant phone calls, text-messages, e-mails, IMs, etc. to check up on you (harassment)
2. Extreme jealousy when you talk to or spend time with other people
3. Name-calling or putting you down, either when you're alone or with other people.
4. Behaviour that you have to apologize or make excuses for.
5. Statements like, "I can't live without you. If you leave me, I'll kill myself."
6. You feel depressed, anxious, and unhappy in your relationship.
7. You're scared to upset or make your partner angry.
8. You've seen your partner hurt or talk down to other people.
9. You're down on yourself, or even hate yourself, especially when you're together.
10. You lie about the bruises or cuts you have.
11. You don't spend as much time with your friends, and you feel isolated.
Surviving Neglect, Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse or Emotional Abuse:
Getting help when you are in an abusive relationship always involves communicating with someone: friends, family, neighbours, counsellors or the police. You have to tell people that you’re being abused no matter how embarrassing or painful it is, and you have to let people help you out of the abusive relationship.
Leaving an abusive relationship can be like breaking an addiction – but love is never about demeaning or hurting another person – no matter how sorry everyone is afterwards. Once you have recognised the abuse you have taken the emotional step away, the next is the physical act of getting out. Once you are out, you will regain your confidence, your personality and your freedom. No person has the right to make you feel less than your worth and no person has the right to abuse you.
Know your worth!
