About Abuse

What is domestic abuse? 

Domestic abuse is not just physical. Abuse can also be sexual, financial, psychological or emotional. It can also include threats and isolation. 

Anyone can experience an abusive environment regardless of gender, age, race, class, religion, ability, income, lifestyle or where they live. Abuse can be perpetrated by partners or ex-partners and take many forms.

Is my relationship healthy?

It’s important to think about whether our relationships are healthy. Abuse is not an exact science and cannot be identified solely through a Quiz or Flow Chart. 

The chart below can be used as a guide and help you to question things in your relationship that may not be healthy. Ultimately, it is important to seek appropriate advice if you feel that your relationship is abusive or has some abusive traits. 

You can always ask for support and help, you are not alone.

The Relationship Quiz

• Does your partner get angry when you want to spend time with your friends or demand that you spend all your time with them?
• Does your partner check your phone, email, online and social media accounts?
• Does your partner try and get you to defriend people on social media, take down your photos, or stop you messaging your friends?
• Is your partner always calling, texting or snapchatting you to check where you are and who you’re with?
• Does your partner tell you what to wear or how to do your hair?
• Does your partner laugh at you or put you down in front of other people?
• Does your partner get aggressive? Do they hit, shove, slap or kick you?
• Does your partner threaten to harm you or themselves?
• Does your partner call you names?
• Does your partner pressure you to have sex when you don’t want to, telling you that “everyone is doing it” or that you would do it “if you really loved them”?

If the answer was yes to any of the questions, you or someone you love may be in an abusive relationship. There are many options and resources available to help you. 

Service User Feedback 

I have used the CEA service since 2010. Forth Valley Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit (DAIU) referred me to CEA. Since this time they have constantly supported me by calls and risk assessments also attending court cases even driving me there, so my car was not present. I have always felt confident discussing sensitive issues with the ladies at CEA as I never felt judged. I have never been let down by the ladies unlike other services, especially with making me feel safe – making sure my phones had storm marker along with panic button and CCTV when the level of domestic abuse was heightened. 

I have always felt confident discussing the situation even when I was living in fear, even receiving the calls and going into the building, I felt comfortable as it was a bit of normality. I would have had a lot more anxiety attending court as a protected witness if I had not had the support. 

I have been attending the women’s group after support finished, which is a great support group for women who have all had trauma. There is no judgement, we can all just chat about life and just feel like we are not facing struggles alone. I feel it has been a huge help after being very isolated for such a long time. 

The service I received was carried over to my children and the staff always made sure they felt safe and listened to; my eldest has also received extra support from CEA, which was such a relief, as she was very quiet after being involved with several court cases and witnessing a lot of domestic violence and bullying. 

Find Out More

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01324 635 661