Abuse is about power. If someone consistently exerts power over another person, that’s abuse. It doesn’t matter if that power is exerted verbally, financially, or through manipulation or physical violence – it’s all abuse.

Sometimes it’s easy to define and identify an abusive relationship. Other times, not so much. This is because there are different types of abuse. It’s important to understand that simple fact and to know that you don’t have to tolerate or live with any abuse of any kind.