Abuse Support Center

Definition of Abuse

The American Heritage Dictionary defines abuse as the following:

The mere fact that so many different forms of abuse exist is frightening. When you consider that the above doesn't include all the possiblities its even more so. Abuse can be physical, mental, verbal, or even intimidation. Whether the abuse takes the form of Sexual Harassment, Bullying, or physical or emotional harm the results are serious.

Victims (or Survivors) of abuse suffer a variety of problems such as low self-esteem, post-traumatic stress, and phobias. These effects linger and drive some to drastic measures. In most cases, the pain and anger of the survivor of abuse is acted out against themselves. This can take the form of self-injury such as cutting, or as eating disorders, and in some suicide.

There are times that the pain and anger finds an external target... sometimes against their abusers, sometimes later in life against their family. Abuse has proven to be a factor in many school shootings as well.

Don't stand for abuse, if you know someone who is abusing someone else, report them and stop the cycle of abuse.