Abuse can be difficult to see, especially when it’s in your own relationship. It can start slowly, and it’s not always physical. You may not realize that the small comments a loved one makes to you are doing harm. You may even make excuses for them. They’re stressed from work or the pandemic.
But abuse takes many forms. It can be physical, like slapping, punching, or kicking. It can involve sexual violence. For many, it’s psychological—making someone feel worthless or isolating them from friends and family. Sometimes it includes stalking.
All these behaviors are forms of domestic violence. This is sometimes called intimate partner violence. At least 25% of women and 10% of men are estimated to have experienced intimate partner violence….