Abuse

Abuse

As an umbrella term for a series of problems, abuse is infuriatingly vague. Abuse is an obviously pervasive problem in today’s society, even more so than many people may realize. Most clinicians deal with the variety of abuses by dividing them into categories and types. The most commonly recognized of these are physical and sexual abuse. Ironically, these are also the more rare cases. Abuse can also be emotional in nature and while not as outwardly damaging, can still have devastating long term results. Often, abuse is not present in simply one form, but appears hand in hand with several different behaviors that can often be categorized with other kinds of abuse. Mentaline.com is here to help you further understand the different kinds of abuse, how to recognize them, and how best to deal with them even in unexpected situations.

Who’s At Risk

It is important to remember that no one is safe from abuse. While it is often aimed toward the weak in a society – children, pregnant women, and elders being particularly problematic – it can easily become a harmful dynamic present in almost any relationship. Stereotypically, we often think of abuse as a problem in lower income families, but statistics show that it can happen to anyone, anywhere. While women are estimated to be the largest target group of abuse, men are also certainly affected and can be in even more danger because of their general unwillingness to report the crimes that have been committed against them.

Why Does It Happen?

At its most basic, abuse is a struggle for power in a relationship through unhealthy means. Whether it’s between a parent and child, spouses, or even friends, an abuser is seeking to control the target of their abuse through physical, sexual, or emotional means. When a person finds themselves in an abusive situation, it can often sneak up on them or surprise them. Often, they will even deny the realities of their situation because of their fear or any of the other emotional complications that can result from being the target for abuse. It is important to remember that abuse is never the target’s fault – it is an act perpetrated by the abuser against the target’s will and a violation of their very basic rights. It has little or nothing to do with anything the target has done, and is much more about the abuser’s need to control the world around them.

How We Can Help

Here at on Mentaline.com, we understand the emotional complexities regarding abusive situations. Whether you find yourself in a bad situation or you believe you may be witnessing an abusive relationship, it can be difficult and frightening to deal with. The professionals listed on Mentaline.com can help you with online guidance and support to identify abusive situations and feel more competent in resolving them. Abuse is a crime that hurts everyone involved and it's important to understand that it needs to be handled with sympathy and understanding.

Definition of Abuse

Abuse is the mistreatment or harm (physical or mental) done to another person over a period of time. Therapy can help a person learn to deal with all the issues that come with long term abuse.

Symptoms of / Reasons for Abuse

• Anxiety
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• A severe reaction to being chastised or scolded
• Dissociation
• One person completely controlling another
• Unexplained marks or bruises on the body
• Repeated injuries that cannot be explained
• Limping, broken bones, or bruising

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