We often talk about abuse, but the conversation is often restricted to physical violence/abuse. Very rarely do we talk about the other forms of violence: emotional, verbal or mental. Is violence simply about physical hurt? To answer this question, we put a very simple question on our Instagram: “What is emotional abuse?”

The replies we received were both enlightening and informative. Here are a few of them:

These replies have highlighted not only the different kinds of violence but also the different forms it might take. From gaslighting to the silent treatment to taunts, all of these fit into some form of violence. Because violence isn’t just limited to physical violence; all of the above constitute violence as well. It’s time to break the silence around it.