Anyone can be mistreated or can fall as a victim of violence or domestic abuse. However, women and children are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence. In fact, every six days in Canada, a woman is slain by her partner, and one in five women experience a form of abuse in their spousal relationship (Statistics Canada, 2019).
Domestic abuse between spouses or intimate partners is when one person in a relationship tries to control the other person. It occurs in traditional marriages as well as in same-sex partnerships. The victim may be a man or woman. Domestic abuse often leads to physical violence or worst, may even end up in murder. There are types of domestic abuse such as physical abuse, verbal or nonverbal abuse, sexual abuse, stalking or cyberstalking, economic abuse, and spiritual abuse. These types of abuse have common elements that indicates intimidation, humiliating the other person, and physical injury.
A person is in an abusive relationship when they constantly feel fear, numbness, and desperation; when their partner shows violent or threatening behaviour; when the partner always insist that they are right and blames their partner for their violent behaviour. These are just some of the signs of being in an abusive relationship and there are more you can find by visiting the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress’ website.
Call the Shelter Movers if you or someone you know want to move out from an abusive relationship. Shelter Movers collaborates with local businesses and community services (e.g. shelters, police, schools, services) who refer clients that have decided to leave an abuser, and have a safer place to go. Shelter Movers makes all the arrangements to move and store survivors’ belongings securely, on the clients’ terms. They empower survivors as they transition to a life free of violence. Visit sheltermovers.com to learn more.
