Common signs of domestic abuse

Physical abuse (any type of harm to someone's body)

• hitting / punching / slapping
• pushing / shoving
• kicking
• burning
• hair pulling
• cutting

Sexual abuse

• demanding / expecting sex
• putting pressure on you to have sex
• suggesting they 'will get it somewhere else'
• dictating how you should make love
• unwanted sex / sex against your will (rape)
• making you have sex with other people
• making you engage in types of sex you aren't comfortable with
• making you watch or re-enact pornography
• threatening to end a relationship if there is no sex
• refusing to or not allowing you to use contraception / protection
• sabotaging contraception (such as breaking a condom)
• keeping you pregnant
• making you have an abortion or not allowing them to have one
• making you sign a 'sexual contract'
• inspecting your underwear after you've been on a night out
• using 'revenge porn' against you

Financial / economic abuse

• taking control of finances
• excluding you from important financial decisions
• stopping you from getting or keeping a job
• taking money from you
• not giving you money or giving you an allowance
• making it difficult for you / not allowing you to have a bank account
• making you pay someone else's bills or cancel their debts
• taking loans in your name
• blaming you if there's not enough money
• selling your possessions when you don't want to
• making it difficult for you to work or asking you to quit your job
• removing your name from a joint bank account

Emotional / psychological / mental abuse

• calling you names
• dominating you
• discrediting you
• making you think there is something wrong with you
• making you feel embarrassed  
• gaslighting
• isolating you
• showing indifference to you
• persuading you to do something for them (e.g. lie about the abuse / change your statement / drop charges / drop bail conditions)
• making you feel scared or anxious
• making you follow rules

Get help or support if any of these types of abuse seem familiar to you.