Many of my stories show abuse in some form or another because I want to shed light on domestic violence. In this story, Monica, the heroine’s mother was in a relationship that featured financial abuse. The commonly held definition of abuse is “a pattern of behavior used by one person to gain and maintain power and control over another.” These behaviors can take on a number of different forms. Many people, when they hear the word “abuse,” think of just physical violence. It’s important to note that physical force is one means of power and control, but it is far from the only one. It’s often not the first one an abuser will use. Below are six different types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial, and cultural identity.
An abusive relationship can include any or all of these types of behaviors, sustained over a period of time, often escalating. If you or someone you care about is experiencing this and you want to talk to someone about your concerns, the hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224 to speak with a trained advocate who will listen without judgment.