Understanding common types of abuse will better prepare you to identify them when you see them; experiencing even one or two of these warning signs may be a red flag that abuse is present in your own relationship.
If you recognize any of these warning signs in your relationship, you can always reach out to us via text or phone at 506-853-0811.
Physical abuse
Abusive behaviour may not always cause physical pain or leave a bruise, but it’s still unhealthy and should always be taken seriously.
Examples of physical abuse include:
- Scratching, punching, biting, choking, or kicking.
- Throwing items at you like a phone, book, shoe.
- Pulling your hair.
- Pushing or pulling you.
- Touching any part of you without your permission.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse refers to any behavior that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually that they don’t want to do.
Examples of sexual abuse include:
- Unwanted kissing or touching.
- Unwanted rough or violent sexual activity.
- Refusing to use condoms or restricting someone’s access to birth control.
- Threatening, pressuring, or otherwise forcing someone to have sex or perform sexual acts.
- Using sexual insults toward someone.
Digital abuse
Digital abuse is the use of technologies like texting and social media to bully, harass, stalk, or intimidate a partner.
Examples of digital abuse include:
- Sending you negative, insulting, or threatening messages or emails.
- Using social media to track your activities.
- Stealing or pressuring you to share your account passwords.
- Constantly texting you or making you feel like you can’t be separated from your phone.
- Looking through your phone or checking up on your pictures, texts, and phone records.
Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse includes threats, insults, constant monitoring or ''checking in,'' excessive texting, humiliation, intimidation, isolation, or stalking.
Examples of behaviors that qualify as emotional or verbal abuse include:
- Calling you names or putting you down.
- Telling you what to do or wear.
- Yelling or screaming at you.
- Intentionally embarrassing you in front of others or starting rumours about you.
Stalking
Stalking occurs when someone watches, follows, or harasses you repeatedly, making you feel afraid or unsafe.
Examples of stalking behavior include:
- Showing up at your home or workplace unannounced or uninvited.
- Sending you unwanted texts, messages, letters, emails, or voicemails.
- Leaving you unwanted items, gifts, or flowers.
- Using social media or technology to track your activities.
- Spreading rumors about you online or in person.
- Waiting around at places you spend time.
Financial abuse
Financial abuse often operates in more subtle ways than other forms of abuse, but it can be just as harmful to those who experience it.
Examples of financial abuse include:
- Giving you an allowance or monitoring what you buy.
- Depositing your paycheck into an account you can’t access.
- Forbidding you from working or limiting the hours you do.
- Using your social insurance number to obtain loans without your permission.
- Using your child’s social insurance number to claim an income tax refund without your permission.
No one deserves to experience abuse in any capacity and every type of abuse is serious.
