Domestic abuse
It can be very unsettling to realise that your partner or ex-partner’s behaviour counts as domestic violence. Please remember that it can happen to anyone and nothing you have done justifies abuse.
You may be wondering whether your partner or ex-partner’s behaviour is normal. Or you may be worried about someone close to you. This guide is designed to help you to understand domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse can have serious social, physical and psychological effects. These effects impact the person who experiences the abuse and also their children.
There is no justification for abuse. Abusive partners have often experienced trauma that they have left untreated. But this trauma never justifies the abuse they inflict on others. Unfortunately, they are rarely capable of change, even though they promise they will.
Perpetrators deploy common strategies to discredit their victims and often use the legal system to continue their abuse. However, judges, police, media and society are all starting to recognise these manipulative tactics and patterns of behaviour.
Domestic abuse is not a private matter. If you have witnessed domestic abuse, or a victim has confided in you, your support could save their life. In an emergency, call the police on 17 or send them an SMS to 114.