What are the signs of domestic abuse?

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Everybody's relationships and experiences are different, but this list from Women's Aid can help you recognise some of the signs of domestic abuse:

Destructive criticism and verbal abuse: this can include shouting, mocking, accusing and being verbally threatening.

Pressure tactics: pressure tactics can include sulking, threatening to withhold money, or taking away things like your access to the car, your phone or internet.

Your partner may also threaten to take the children away. Threatening or attempting self-harm and suicide.

Disrespect: your partner may persistently put you down in front of other people.

Breaking trust: this can include lying to you or keeping information from you, being jealous, cheating and breaking promises.

Isolation: your partner may try and isolate you by monitoring or blocking your phone calls and social media. They might control where you go, stop you seeing family and friends or lock you in the house.

Harassment: harassment might include following you, accompanying you everywhere you go, or checking up to see where you've been.

Threats: as well as verbal threats such as threatening to kill or harm you or your family, or threatening suicide, threatening behaviour can be physical.

Sexual violence: sexual violence can include using force, threats or intimidation to make you perform sexual acts.

Physical violence: punching, slapping, hitting, biting, kicking; pulling hair out, burning, strangling, pinning you down, holding you by the neck and restraining you are all types of physical violence.

Denial: some abusers will deny any abuse happens and may be gentle and patient in public.