By: Daisy Morales Financial Abuse is a form of abuse in which the abuser has control over the economic resources of the abused. Financial abuse can be a part of both Elder and Domestic Abuse. Examples of Financial Abuse include: using physical force to get money, spending someone else’s money without their consent, and prohibiting someone from getting (or quitting) a job. Although Financial Abuse is prevalent and almost always present in abusive domestic relationships, it is less recognized as abuse than Domestic Abuse (Zeiderman, 2021). Here are some myths and facts about Financial Abuse. Myth: Financial Abuse only happens...
Consent
By: Rashmi Negi The concept of “consent” has been undervalued for too long. Consent usually means a person is voluntarily permitting another person to do something. When it comes to intimate relationships, consent must be explicitly given. However, people still debate over consensual sex and sexual assault. Society draws a thin line when two people are intimately involved with each other, and in the process, if one person does not explicitly say “no,” some people will accept it as a “yes.” A person may not directly say “no” for many reasons, such as fear or a desire to please another....
Survivor Or Victim: How Do You See Yourself?
By: Lauren Jacques When you think about your trauma, do you see yourself as a victim or a survivor? Do you see yourself as someone watching the event unfold—a target being pushed around by your abuser? Do you see yourself at the center of the abuse, hurt but alive? Can you picture yourself now, after the abuse? Are you still waiting for the next blow, or are you able to see that you have made it through the trauma? The words we use affect our view of ourselves and our trauma. My therapist refers to this as “the story we...
How Abuse Manifests In The Body
By: Mandie Schreck Psychological Abuse can also manifest in the physical body and the mind. When emotions are stored in our physical body, tissues, muscles, and joints, it can cause stress and strain. When deeply rooted abuse and trauma occur, the energy from those emotions seeps through into our physical layers. Physical manifestations can be seen in how a person carries themselves. For example, their shoulders may round forward as if protecting their heart. You may see someone with an off-centered gait from imbalanced hips or tight IT bands. When an individual is going through these ebbs and flows of emotions...
How To Get Out Of An Abusive Situation
By: Rashmi Negi It can be hard to come to terms emotionally with the fact that you are being abused and even harder to muster the courage to get out of an abusive situation. We know it’s a difficult and long process, and it’s okay if you feel lost at times. If you’re unsure about how or even where to start, we want to help answer some of your questions. Here are some important steps to take when leaving an abusive relationship. Know the Different Forms of Abuse Abuse can take many forms in a relationship. Some of the different...
Financial Abuse
By: Cali Robins When people think of abuse, they often think of physical or verbal abuse first. Financial abuse can seem invisible. In domestic situations, the control, restriction, and theft of money are all forms of financial abuse upon a partner. There are many methods that an abuser can use to control their victims’ lives and manipulate them through finances. Make sure to look out for these signs of Financial Abuse: · Controlling household finances without letting their partner see the accounts· Not allowing their partner to work or sabotaging their career· Hiding money from their partner· Making their partner...
The Rise Of Domestic Violence During COVID-19
BY RASHMI NEGI The COVID-19 outbreak has changed our lives in ways we never could have imagined. According to the World Health Organization, there have been over four million COVID-related deaths worldwide and counting. [1] It has been one of the most challenging times in many of our lives, causing fear of the unknown and the possible loss of loved ones. As the pandemic evolved, the U.S. issued stay-at-home orders in March 2020, affecting each of us in many ways. The lockdown had a massive effect on mental health as people adjusted to staying inside their homes. For some, it...
What Is Narcissistic Abuse?
Narcissistic (Emotional) Abuse is a type of emotional abuse that you may not be familiar with is Narcissistic Abuse where the narcissist projects on to another individual. Narcissistic Abuse is focused primarily on psychological and emotional abuse but other types of narcissistic abuse can be classified under this category to include financial, spiritual, sexual, and physical abuse. Relationship Types Narcissistic abuse does not discriminate. This type of abuse can occur in any type of relationship with the workplace, all age groups, spouses and extended family. Much information that you may come across may reveal as this as a personality disorder with psychopathy but...
Spousal Abuse
BY DAISY MORALES Spousal abuse, also called domestic abuse or intimate partner abuse, can include physical, psychological, and financial abuse perpetrated by a spousal/domestic/intimate partner against the people they should care for. Spousal abuse often begins with incidents such as screaming, slapping, or pushing that may seem innocuous or a one-time occurrence, but progressively develop into continuous, more threatening abuse. Even when spousal abuse becomes more habitual, abusers will continue to deny their responsibility, opting instead to blame the victim’s behavior. They also may blame their own actions on outside influences, such as alcohol or stress. If abusers do apologize...
Lessons From Norm Therapy™
BY LAUREN JACQUES Kelly Dehn, Cofounder of ARO, has been able to help those in abusive situations because of her own life experience. After reaching what she refers to as the lowest point of her life, suffering abuse after abuse, Dehn was introduced to by Michael Gibson, Cofounder; and eventually began, what is now known as Norm Therapy™. Dehn describes Norm Therapy™ as “a baseline therapy from which the professionals can carry on their mission to help the abused. We will build a baseline of overt clarity for each abused victim. Basically, what we are doing is providing a clear...