Your first reaction might be to say no, but abuse need not be physical.

Promoting Alternatives to Violence (Pave), an agency which helps victims of domestic violence, defines violence as the act or the threat of violence.

It can occur in many situations and can take physical or non-physical forms.

Physical: Obvious examples are punching, slapping, choking, kicking or throwing things. But it can also include seemingly innocuous acts like pushing and pulling.

Verbal or emotional: Examples of emotional violence include simply rejecting or withdrawing affection or love from someone. Using insults also counts. These need not be extremes like expletives. It may be something as simple as "stupid" or "idiot". Constant criticism erodes selfesteem.

Psychological: Aggressive threats with knives or other weapons. But there's also threatening to harm oneself or commit suicide. These have a damaging effect no matter how idle the threat. There is also gaining dominance through controlling and restricting a person's social life or finances. It can also take the form of harassment, whether verbal or on social media platforms.

Sexual: It goes beyond forcing sex on another person or forcing someone to perform a lewd or sexual act. Any unwanted touching or fondling also counts.

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