Lots of factors can contribute to the end of a marriage — particularly domestic violence.
It’s important to understand that domestic violence doesn’t have to be physical to cause you serious pain. At one time or another, almost everyone has shouted out hurtful words during an argument with their intimate partner or spouse. That’s human nature, dealing a low blow or trying to get in the last word in an argument. Domestic abuse supersedes that, however, both in frequency and in substance.
Domestic abuse takes many forms
The spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline called the non-physical types of domestic abuse “an epidemic . . . that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s gradual and continues to happen for years.”
Below are ways that a spouse or partner can be abusive without ever lifting a finger to their victim:
- Constant accusations that a partner is being unfaithful
- Humiliation
- Gaslighting
- Blaming the victim for the abuse
- Disallowing continued relationships with relatives and friends
- Controlling what the victim wears, eats and spends
- Threats of harm toward loved ones or pets
- Name-calling
- Constant criticism
- Trapping victims in a room or their home
- Destroying or damaging possessions
According to the Domestic Violence Hotline, of the 323,000 calls made by victims in 2016, 84% involved some type of verbal or emotional abuse in addition to the 58% involving physical violence.
What you can do about this type of abuse in your marriage
Unlike physical abuse, there are no graphic pictures of bruises or other injuries to submit. With Illinois being a two-party consent state when it comes to recording conversations, you could also get yourself into big trouble trying to gather evidence electronically.
When you’re the victim of spousal abuse, you shouldn’t try to handle the situation on your own. An experienced Chicago attorney can help you find the way out of your situation.