Skip to main content
Home > Worried about your own behaviour?

Worried about your own behaviour?

If you are concerned that your own behaviour is becoming or has become abusive, Respect can help you, by providing you with someone to talk to, or directing you to services to help you in your local area.

The Respect phone line 0845 122 8609 is open Monday - Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm -5pm and has a message service the rest of the time.

What is domestic violence and domestic abuse?
Some examples of domestic violence and domestic abuse
Where to go for help and advice

 

What is domestic violence and domestic abuse?

  • The misuse of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial control by one person over another who is or has been in a relationship. This includes family members.
  • Domestic violence and abuse can include being threatened with abuse.
  • Domestic violence and abuse is usually by men against women but not exclusively.
  • Domestic violence and abuse is a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviours, from one partner to the other in one direction.
  • Domestic violence and abuse includes forced marriage, “honour” crimes and female genital mutilation

 

Some examples of domestic violence and domestic abuse

Physical

Hitting, kicking, slapping, use of a weapon, threatening someone with a weapon, refusing to let someone leave the house

Emotional/psychological

Putting someone down, making them feel guilty for something that’s not their fault, threatening to harm yourself or the children, convincing them you are ill

Sexual

Forcing someone to do something they don’t want to, raping them, sexually humiliating them, ignoring their use of a safe word

Financial

Controlling how much money someone can spend, forcing them to show receipts for all their purchases, not letting them get a job.


This is not an exhaustive list – maybe your partner has told you that something you do scares or worries her or your children, or you have noticed that something does.

 

Where to go for help and advice