Domestic violence does not always involve physical violence and can range from insults through to life-threatening injuries or even murder.  The abuser uses physical, economic or other power to be in control and to put the victim in a position of powerlessness.  Domestic 

violence and abuse can take one,

two or more of these forms:

Emotional Abuse

• Demeaning comments
• Insults
• Taunts about being useless, lazy, fat, ugly or stupid
• Dictating how to dress
• Threats of suicide
• Threats of taking the children
• Surveillance
• Baseless jealousy
• Cutting off from family or friends
• Abusing pets
• Destroying sentimental or valued possessions.

Economic Abuse

• Withholding money
• Taking money
• Spending while the children do without
• Making all purchases
• Denying access to bank accounts
• Prevention from taking or keeping a job.  

Sexual Abuse

• Forced sex
• Distasteful or painful sexual activity
• Exposure to AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases
• Refusal to use or permit her to use birth control.  

Spiritual Abuse

• Ridicule or punishment for holding a religious or cultural belief
• Forbidding practice of a person’s religion or forcing adherence to different practices.  

Physical Abuse

• Slapping
• Punching
• Kicking
• Shoving
• Choking
• Burning
• Biting
• Pushing down stairs
• Stabbing or slashing with a knife
• Shooting
• Hitting with an object
• Hitting or pushing against an object