Abuse is not right!

Life Issues with FGK

Abuse is a very sensitive and broad topic, whichever way you look at it.

It is real and is happening in our communities.

But what really is abuse?

How can one know they are abusing or being abused?

Abuse can loosely be defined as any action that purposefully harms another.

It comes in many forms ranging from physical, verbal, sexual, financial, emotional, psychological or spiritual.

In most instances, it is difficult to know if a relative, friend, neighbour or colleague is experiencing some form of abuse.

Victims or perpetrators can be anyone.

We should remember that not everything is always in black and white.

For instance, not every victim is passive and has low self-esteem.

Similarly, perpetrators do not always exhibit violent traits in public.

Several people who experience domestic violence rarely open up.

But victims often suffer physical and psychological abuse.

Physical abuse involves unwanted contact or invading someone’s space in a way that makes them feel unsafe.

This kind of abuse tends to hugely affect victims as they often sustain physical injuries that create health complications such as back pains, headaches, etcetera.

We also have sexual abuse, whereby one is raped or forced to perform sexual acts of any sort.

In most cases, a victim of sexual abuse may find it difficult to hold on to relationships and can begin to struggle with depression and anxiety.

While navigating the anger and disbelief of their partner’s actions, victims may experience post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual dysfunction and poor sleep patterns.

Then comes verbal abuse, which hurts more than physical abuse.

Words inflict unbearable pain.

While physical abuse can easily be discerned, the effects of verbal or emotional abuse are harder to spot.

Also, emotional scars often take longer to heal.

There is nothing as cruel as torturing another person psychologically.

Some victims have suffered to the extent of contemplating or even committing suicide.

We also have financial abuse, which is affecting many women across the globe.

In this case, the perpetrator controls the household budgeting, does not allow the victim to have access to their own bank accounts, spend money, open credit cards, you name it.

Victims are at times not allowed to seek employment.

As a result, they are left financially dependent on the abuser, which makes it difficult for them to leave.

If you have been abusing others in any way, it is high time you stop.

Abuse is a crime.

If you have been a victim of abuse, do not keep it to yourself. Find someone you trust to talk to or seek professional counselling.

Break the silence, speak up and fight for your justice. This will help you heal and refocus on your life.

Do not continuously blame yourself for being a victim of abuse.

It was not your fault.

We should take time to understand one another so that it becomes easy to notice if someone is being abused.

Last but not least, report cases of abuse to the police.