Ways to Support a Friend Experiencing Relationship Abuse
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Everyone deserves healthy relationships. We’re joining the National Domestic Violence Hotline to promote healthy relationships and an understanding of what abuse is. This is a brief introductory article discussing a large and important topic, so we hope you’ll seek out the additional resources linked at the bottom of this page.
Reasons why people stay in abusive relationships
- They may not recognize that their partner’s behaviors are unhealthy or abusive.
- They may fear the consequences if they decide to leave their relationship.
- They may feel that they’ve done something wrong, that they deserve the abuse.
- They may be financially dependent on their abusive partner.
The 5 types of abuse in an abusive relationship
- Physical abuse: Non-accidental use of force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment
- Emotional abuse: May include verbal aggression, intimidation, manipulation, and humiliation
- Sexual abuse: Non-consensual sexual interaction through coercion, guilt, or force
- Financial abuse: When one partner has control over the other partner’s access to economic resources
- Digital abuse: when one partner uses technology to bully, harass, stalk, or intimidate a partner
Reasons why people are abusive to their partners
- Abusive people believe their own feelings and needs should be the priority in the relationship.
- Abuse is a learned behavior — and it is also a choice to abuse.
- Domestic violence stems from a desire to gain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
- Tactics of abuse may be aimed at dismantling equality in the relationship in order to make their partners feel less valuable and undeserving of respect.
Ways to support a friend experiencing relationship abuse
- Acknowledge that their situation is difficult and scary and that they are brave to regain control from it.
- Empower them to make their own decisions — even if they choose to stay.
- Help them create a safety plan or encourage them to contact The Hotline.
- Do not post information about them on social media that could be used to identify them or where they spend time.
Information provided by the National Domestic Violence Hotline. View more information and resources here. The Hotline’s advocates are here to listen without judgement and help you begin to address what’s going on in your relationship. Their services are always free and available 24/7. Text START to 88788 or chat at https://www.thehotline.org/