| Type of Abuse | Examples | Typical Signs | Possible Evidence to Collect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control & Domination | Monitoring phone/social media; isolating from friends/family; dictating choices. | Victim becomes socially withdrawn; fear of asking permission; loss of independence. | Phone/text logs; witness accounts (friends/family); diary notes about isolation. |
| Verbal & Psychological Attacks | Name-calling, insults, mocking, yelling, gaslighting. | Low self-esteem; confusion about reality; repeated apologies for “being wrong.” | Texts/emails with insults; audio recordings; journal entries describing incidents. |
| Threats & Intimidation | Threats of harm to victim/pets/kids; smashing objects; stalking. | Hypervigilance; fear of partner’s anger; child anxiety or pet fear. | Photos of damaged property; threatening messages; police reports; witness statements. |
| Emotional Neglect & Withholding | Silent treatment; withdrawal of affection/communication. | Victim reports feeling invisible, unloved, punished for small things. | Personal journal; screenshots of ignored messages; therapy notes documenting neglect. |
| Manipulation & Coercion | Blaming victim; guilt-tripping; love-bombing/devaluation cycles. | Victim takes responsibility for abuser’s actions; emotional rollercoaster. | Written apologies forced by abuser; text evidence of guilt-trips; therapist/advocate notes. |
| Undermining Self-Worth | Constant criticism; public humiliation; sabotaging success. | Drop in work/school performance; reluctance to try new things; loss of confidence. | Work records; colleague/friend testimony; written critiques/notes left by abuser. |
| Exploiting Vulnerabilities | Using secrets/trauma; controlling healthcare; manipulating children. | Victim fears disclosure of private issues; missed medical care; children fearful or hostile. | Medical access records; messages withholding medication/money; family court filings; children’s drawings/statements. |
⚠️ Note: Emotional abuse can be harder to prove than physical or financial abuse, but patterns + multiple small pieces of evidence (texts, diaries, witness accounts, therapy notes) often carry weight in court.
