CHAT - Bust The Myth

Are you abused?

Abuse is not just about being beaten up. It can be physical, sexual, emotional or verbal. Neglect — when parents or caregivers do not take care of the basic needs of the people who depend on them — is also a form of abuse.

Physical abuse is often the most easily spotted form of abuse. It may be any kind of hitting, shaking, burning, pinching, biting, choking, throwing, beating, and other actions that cause physical injury, leave marks, or cause physical pain.

Sexual abuse is being forced into any type of sexual activity that you do not agree to, such as inappropriate touching, sexual intercourse, rape and molest.

Emotional abuse can be difficult to pin down because there may not be physical signs. Emotional abuse happens when yelling and anger go too far or when parents constantly criticize or threaten you to the extent that your self-esteem and feelings of self-worth are damaged. Emotional abuse can hurt and cause damage just as physical abuse does.

Neglect is probably the hardest type of abuse to define. Neglect occurs when a child or young person does not have adequate food, housing, clothes, medical care, or supervision. Emotional neglect happens when a parent doesn't provide enough emotional support or deliberately and consistently pays very little or no attention to a child.

Often, abuse happens within the home. It can happen in any family. Sometimes parents abuse each other, which can be hard for a child to witness. Some parents abuse their children by using physical or verbal cruelty as a way of discipline.

Abuse can also take place outside the home. Bullying is a form of abusive behavior. Bullying someone through intimidation, threats, or humiliation can be just as abusive as beating someone up. People who bully others may have been abused themselves.

Abuse can also take the form of hate crimes directed at people just because of their race, religion, abilities, gender, or sexual orientation.