This is often the most visible form of DFV, involving, keeping you awake at night; choking; not allowing you to leave or be alone in a room; throwing and breaking items, including cell phones; hitting, punching, and kicking; hurting family pets; pressure to engage in unwanted sexual activity such as not using a condom or outright sexual assault.

Emotional manipulation through bullying or controlling behavior can severely damage someone's self-esteem and self-worth. Victims may be blamed for relationship issues, compared negatively with others, or subjected to bullying that undermines their sense of self.

Possessiveness; isolation; jealousy; threats of arrests or child protection reports; the feeling of walking on eggshells; the feeling you can never do enough or anything right; “gas lighting,” or calling you and/or your suspicions crazy; using past or current substance abuse to keep you from leaving.

Words can be as damaging as physical abuse. Verbal abuse involves humiliating taunts, public or private, verbal insults about intelligence, sexuality, body image, or value as a family member, parent, or spouse.

Name calling, especially in front of children; belittling; threatening to kill you, themselves or your pets;

“If I can’t have you, no one can.”

Most sexual abuse victims know their perpetrators. In relationships, sexual abuse includes any non-consensual sexual activity, inflicting pain during sex, genital assault, coercive unprotected sex, or using sexually degrading language.

Taking complete control of finances, restricting access to bank accounts, or using someone's money without consent constitutes financial abuse. This behavior aims to make victims feel vulnerable, isolated, and trapped in their situation.

Not allowing you to work or not working themselves (either creates financial instability to keep you from leaving); withholding money; giving you an “allowance” for food or gas; withholding access to bank cards and accounts; withholding access to vehicles or the home.

Justifying abuse through religious teachings or cultural traditions, denigrating cultural backgrounds, or denying access to religious ceremonies, land, or family constitutes spiritual abuse. Impacting individuals' identity and well-being. Victims may not realise they're being abused in this way.

The misuse of digital tools to control or harm others, such as stalking, harassment, or coercion through electronic devices or online platforms. It can lead to psychological distress, invasion of privacy, and threats to physical safety.

Controlling someone by isolating them from friends and connections is a form of abuse. Tactics include rudeness to family and friends, moving to unfamiliar locations, or prohibiting them from leaving the house, causing mental harm.

As elders and children may not be able to protect themselves, they are vulnerable to physical, financial, emotional, or sexual abuse. Neglecting the care of children and elderly individuals is also a form of abuse.