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Domestic violence is the physical, emotional, sexual or mental
abuse of one person by another, with whom they have or have
had an intimate relationship.
Domestic violence is very common: it can happen to any woman,
regardless of her age, social class, race, disability or lifestyle.
Domestic violence can start at any point in a relationship,
even many years after you first met.
Domestic violence is rarely a one-off event. Physical violence
often escalates in frequency and severity over time. However,
the violence can take many forms and even though the physical
or sexual abuse may not happen regularly, other forms of abusive
or controlling behaviour may be ongoing, so that you always
feel off-balance or anxious about your relationship.
Although every situation is unique, there are some common behaviours
that link the experience of an abusive relationship. Acknowledging
that you are in an abusive relationship is an important step
in preventing and stopping the violence. All forms of abuse
– psychological, economic, emotional, sexual and physical
- come from the abuser’s desire to maintain power and
control over another person.
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