This Is All Abuse: Naming What’s Typically Hidden
- Tiffiny Newton
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
When most people hear the word abuse, they picture bruises or broken bones.
But domestic violence doesn’t always leave visible marks. In fact, some of the most damaging forms of abuse are silent, subtle, and designed to leave no trace.
At IgniteHer, we believe that naming the truth is the first step to breaking the cycle. That’s why, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), we are calling out the hidden tactics that keep too many people trapped behind the smile.
Abuse is more than bruises
Abuse takes many forms. If you’ve experienced one or more of these, you’ve experienced abuse:
Name calling and verbal insults
Hitting, intimidation, and sexual assault
Control of money
Threatening legal action
Threatening to take away children or harm loved ones
Threatening your job or livelihood
Threatening to leave you as punishment
Extreme jealousy
Controlling who you can see or speak to
Destroying your property
Gaslighting — making you doubt your own reality
🟣 THIS IS ALL ABUSE
The Reality In Numbers
Domestic violence is widespread and deadly serious. The data makes that clear:
1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime (CDC).
More than 20,000 calls per day are placed to DV hotlines in the U.S. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence).
On average, it takes 7 attempts to leave an abusive relationship for good (National Domestic Violence Hotline).
Experiencing strangulation increases homicide risk (National Library of Medicine).
Children exposed to domestic violence face higher risks of anxiety, depression, and future victimization (Futures Without Violence).
These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent lives—neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members who may never speak out.
Why Awareness Matters
Awareness isn’t about pity. It’s about power.
When we name abusive behaviors for what they are, we give survivors:
Clarity — abuse is real, even without bruises.
Language — words to describe what’s happening behind closed doors.
Options — access to resources and the confidence to reach out.
That’s why campaigns like Domestic Violence Awareness Month exist: to expose what abusers want hidden, and to create safer paths forward for survivors.
How You Can Help
Share this post — awareness spreads faster when we all speak up.
Check in on friends — if something feels “off,” believe your instincts.
Support survivors — your donation helps put life-saving safety plans and resources directly into their hands.
👉 Donate to IgniteHer and stand with survivors today.
Final Word
Domestic violence isn’t always visible, but it is always dangerous.By naming it, by refusing silence, we take the first step toward ending it.
💜 If you or someone you know may be experiencing abuse, visit IgniteHer.org for resources, or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Together, we can break the silence.