One in four women will be affected affected by domestic violence sometime in her life, according to the Public Policy Office of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. There are five kinds of domestic violence that one partner can inflict on the other, and you may not even recognize them as violence immediately. However, all forms of domestic violence can leave a partner feeling ashamed, isolated and afraid, even without the marks and scars that physical violence leaves behind.
Physical
One in three trauma patients are women who have been physically abused, reports the American Academy of Family Physicians, and 2,000 to 4,000 women who have been physically abused die each year as a result of their injuries. A partner that hits, kicks, pushes or otherwise threatens another partner physically is guilty of physical violence. It's important to remember that any type of physical violence is a considered a crime, notes The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
Sexual
Sexual domestic violence occurs when one partner forces another partner to engage in sexual acts. Many people assume that rape only occurs outside of a relationship, however, it can occur in the home as well. Any time someone says "no" to sex and is forced to engage anyway, it is considered rape. Sexual harassment and exploitation, such as forcing someone to watch pornography or using sexually degrading language, are also considered sexual violence,.
Psychological
Psychological domestic violence is often hard to prove. A partner who belittles another partner, preys on his weakness or using emotional abuse to control the other partner is guilty of psychological abuse. Psychological abuse instills fear in one partner, causing him to stay in the relationship and endure the abuse. It ultimately can lead to stress, depression, low self esteem and even post traumatic stress disorder, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Isolation
Some partners exert power over their partners in keeping them away from their friends and family, and keeping them isolated from the world in general. A man who makes a woman stay home all of the time to tend to his needs, or so he can have her all to himself is committing domestic violence. He acts through fear and guilt to make his partner feel as though she can never leave him. He may threaten his own life, beg and plead to keep her away from other people.
Control
Possessiveness, jealousy and a need to control all of the aspects of someone's life is the result of controlling domestic violence. A person who wants to tell her partner who he can talk to, where he should go and what to do is exerting her power to take away another adult's free will, which is wrong. If your partner threatens you, makes you feel guilty or bad about talking to other people or going somewhere, she is abusing you by trying to control your life.
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