What is domestic abuse? I remember if you asked me around 3 years ago, regardless that I was going through it – I wouldn’t of had a clue!

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. People always presume it happens to just females – myth! It can happen to anyone. YE of March 2020 2.3m UK adults experienced domestic abuse. 1.2m were women, the rest were men (stats from the government)

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical. If you google domestic abuse and go on photos I can bet you any money 99% of them will be physical looking. Someone being attacked, someone covered in bruises. Yes, physical can come into play but not always – myth!

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone as I said, regardless of their background. People generally believe that if you chose the wrong type of man it’s because you have poor knowledge, lack of income etc – myth! I experienced it while working in banking and I’ve come from a loving family.

Here’s a description of it from the charity refuge:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THE SYSTEMATIC PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR ON THE PART OF THE ABUSER DESIGNED TO CONTROL HIS PARTNER.

THE ABUSE CAN BE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, FINANCIAL OR SEXUAL. ANYONE FORCED TO ALTER THEIR BEHAVIOUR BECAUSE THEY ARE FRIGHTENED OF THEIR PARTNER’S REACTION IS BEING ABUSED. IT CAN BEGIN AT ANY STAGE OF THE RELATIONSHIP. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS RARELY A ONE-OFF. INCIDENTS GENERALLY BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND SEVERE OVER TIME.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, SOCIAL BACKGROUND, GENDER, RELIGION, SEXUALITY OR ETHNICITY. WHILST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENS IN ALL RELATIONSHIPS (HETEROSEXUAL, LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER), STATISTICS SHOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS ARE CARRIED OUT BY MEN AND EXPERIENCED BY WOMEN.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A CRIME. WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN BRINGING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO AN END.

Did you know what domestic abuse was?