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Signs of Abuse aren't always clear

Abuse can come in any form, not just physical. Subtle forms of abuse can be just as harmful and damaging as more overt forms, yet they may be harder to recognize or be aware of and often get easily dismissed.

What are some signs of emotional abuse?

What are some signs of sexual abuse?

What are some signs of physical abuse?

  • Emotional Manipulation: gaslighting, mocking, guilt-tripping, using love to cover control, and microaggressions

  • Invalidation: Dismissing and minimizing feelings, ignoring concerns, undermining confidence. Also can include focusing on the victim's reaction/the way they brought it up instead of the incident when an issue occurs. 

  • Isolation: Limiting friendships, controlling social activities, and creating a feeling of loneliness or dependency (and discouraging independence or self-reliance). It could also involve a third party to support their narrative. 

  • Overly Harsh Reactions: Excessively shouting, criticizing, or withholding affection as a form of punishment for an action

  • Excessive Control: Attempting to control actions, interests, and relationships

  • Neglect: Failing to provide support, validation, or care, leaving them feeling unloved and unseen

  • Excessive Responsibility: unloading excessive burdens, concerns, and tasks, placing both emotional pressure and responsibility

  • Intimidation: coercion, manipulation, and implied threats to themself, their partner, family members, and loved ones. 

  • Sexual coercion: Use of guilt, pressure, or manipulation for sex ("If you loved me..." or "You owe me")

  • Unwanted physical action: Nonconsensual kissing, inappropriate touching (chest, legs, pelvic, butt)

  • Reproductive coercion: removal of a condom without consent, refusal to wear protection, restricting access to birth control, forcing pregnancy or abortion

  • Exposure: Showing intimate areas to an unconsenting party, sharing of private photos, forcing the victim to watch porn or other sexual acts

  • Degradation: sexual insults, name-calling, unwanted sexual commentary on the victim's body

  • Pressure: Repeatedly asking for nude photographs or videos after the person refused, begging to videotape or photograph a partner during sex, repeatedly asking for sex or further sexual action after being told no

  • Taking advantage: Having sex or committing sexual acts with someone under the influence (alcohol or drugs), having sexual advances with someone who is sleeping, or initiating sex with an unresponsive partner

  • Rough handling: pushing, pulling, and grabbing roughly or painfully, using the excuse of playfulness or protection

  • Denying basic needs: Refusal or manipulation of medication (saying "you don't need it"), denying or restricting food or water intake, not allowing proper rest or hygiene.

  • Restriction of movement: Blocking doorways, grabbing to prevent leaving, pinning down

  • Physical altercations: Slapping, punching, hair pulling, or injuring the victim

  • Property damage: Breaking items, throwing objects, punching walls, and destroying things without directly harming the victim

  • Animal abuse: Kicking, neglecting, harming, or threatening pets to instill fear

  • Forcing intoxication: Forcing the victim to use/take drugs or alcohol

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Information used from NNEDV.org, LoveIsRespect.org, and own information

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