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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

  • Writer: Mads Hemphill
    Mads Hemphill
  • Sep 25
  • 2 min read

A time to talk honestly and compassionately about safety in relationships. When many people hear the term “domestic violence”, they imagine physical harm. It’s important to raise awareness around the other shapes that abuse can take on in relationships. Emotional, psychological, verbal, financial, and spiritual abuse can also occur in close relationships and have the ability to cause lasting harm. When people know what domestic abuse looks like, they are more empowered to speak out and seek help. 


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Forms of Domestic Violence 

  • Physical abuse 

    • What it means: Violations of physical boundaries that cause harm, pain or fear 

    • What it can look like: Hitting, pushing, grabbing, or destroying property

    • “They grabbed my arm during an argument and refused to let go.” 

  • Emotional abuse 

    • What it means: Words that erode self-worth and emotional safety 

    • What it can look like: Constant criticism, guilt-tripping, silent treatment, or invalidating your emotions 

    • “They told me no one else would ever love me if I left them.” 

  • Psychological abuse 

    • What it means: Messing with one’s sense of reality 

    • What it can look like: Gaslighting, threats, constant lying, or intentionally causing confusion  

    • Example: “They told me that I was crazy even though I have proof that they lied to me this weekend.”

  • Verbal abuse 

    • What it means: Harsh words and criticism that evoke fear, pain, and distress 

    • What it can look like: Name-calling, harassment, yelling, humiliation or insults 

    • “Any time I miss their phone call, they scream at me and tell me I’m stupid.”

  • Financial abuse 

    • What it means: Controlling money in order to limit choices  

    • What it can look like: Stealing paychecks, forcing access to bank accounts, limiting access to money, or sabotaging job security 

    • “They told me that I have to give them all of my money each week, and then they’ll give me an allowance.” 

  • Spiritual abuse 

    • What it means: Manipulating faith or spiritual beliefs to exert control 

    • What it can look like: Twisting religious teachings to justify abuse, punishing perceived deviations from faith, or limiting access to places of worship 

    • “They told me that God will punish me if I disagree with them.” 


Am I Safe?

If you are wondering if you’re experiencing domestic violence in your relationship, consider asking yourself these questions:

  • Does my partner consistently treat me with kindness and respect? 

  • Do I feel safe to express my feelings, opinions, needs, and boundaries to them?

  • Do I ever feel afraid to say “no” or worry how they’ll react if I disagree with them?

  • Do I feel manipulated, tricked, or guilted into doing things that I don’t want to do? 

  • Do they support my life outside of our relationship, and encourage me to grow in community with others? 

  • Do I feel like I have to hide or lie about any aspects of my relationship?

  • Do I feel like we are equal partners, or is one of us always in control?


The Bottom Line 

Here at Jamron, we believe that everyone deserves a relationship where they feel seen, heard, and emotionally safe. If you’ve experienced any form of domestic violence, it’s not your fault, and healing is possible. We’re here to help. 


Written by:

Mads Hemphill

CAT-Intern


National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)


New York State Domestic Violence 24 Hour Hotline (English & español/Multi-language accessibility): 1-800-942-6906 or 711 for Deaf or Hard of Hearing


 
 
 
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