Relationship ABUSE IS AN ISSUE OF POWER & CONTROL
It involves a person abusing his or her power over another person (or people) in the household. It is not due to anger problems, drinking or drugs (although these issues may make the abuse worse) Abuse is a conscious decision by a person to control another person’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Relationship abuse can include threats or action. The abuser can be a husband, common-law partner, boyfriend, or female partner in the case of lesbian relationships. For sexual assault, it could be a stranger. The abuser could also be a caregiver or your adult child.