Abuse

Abuse is about an imbalance of power and the attempt to gain power over another person. Different forms of abuse include psychological, physical, emotional, verbal and mental and are all used as methods to disempower another person. Physical abuse and bullying are the most recognizable form of abuse and affects men, women and children of all ages. It also includes the destruction of property. In addition to the common forms of abuse, other methods include less obvious forms such as guilt or fear mongering, implied violence, intense emotions, neglect, emotional or sexual withdrawal, abuse of authority such as employer to employee, political or spiritual abuse.

Another common form of abuse is sexual abuse, which is defined as forced or coerced intimate contact without consent from the individual. Those under the age of 18 years old are not able to provide consent and therefore any form of sexual contact is considered sexual abuse. Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse can include many forms such as yelling, name calling, threats of harm, stonewalling, emotional manipulation, withholding care of a child and insults. Spiritual abuse is the misuse of authority or a spiritual leadership position in order to intimidate, shame, manipulate, or cause guilt or to control someone else.

Victims of abuse often stay in the relationship out of fear, hopelessness or they do not see a way out of the situation. Without the proper help, victims cannot stop the abusive cycle and Evölve is here to help find a safe place to start the healing process and regain your life back.