Types of domestic abuse

Leave this page

Domestic abuse (also known as domestic violence) can include:

• Physical: for example, hitting, punching, threatening to harm
• Emotional: for example, name-calling, putting you down, undermining your confidence
• Psychological: for example, playing mind games with you, also known as ‘gaslighting’, making you think you are going mad
• Economic: for example, controlling your finances, coercing you into debt, affecting your ability to work
• Sexual: for example, making you do things of a sexual nature which you are uncomfortable with, withholding sex as a ‘punishment’
• Coercive and controlling behaviour: for example, your partner making all the decisions and you having to comply with ‘rules’ within your household
• Stalking and Harassment: for example, following you, checking up on you where this is from a partner, ex-partner or family member