October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and a Piatt County non-profit is focusing on the various ways domestic violence or abuse can look.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Director of Services at Willow Tree Missions, Andrea Kocher told Regional Radio most of the time, victims of domestic abuse do not realize they are in an abusive relationship.

Verbal, financial, and physical abuse are the most common forms of domestic violence and Kocher points out it isn't always male abuse, in fact, she notes female abusers are very common.

Financial abuse in a relationship can be very crippling. According to Kocher, when an abuser controls their victim's money, it makes getting out for that person very difficult.

Kocher points out sexual abuse can happen in both a marriage and outside of a marriage. Additionally, it can be difficult for an individual to come to grips with the idea of sexual abuse in a relationship.

With religious abuse, that can be as simple as an abuser destroying something sacred to the victim or Kocher adds, it can be the abuser teaching them things in the home they do not agree with.

During domestic violence awareness month, experts also hope to bring awareness to men who are in an abusive relationship. Kocher says this is far more common than most people realize and like women who are being abused, it is difficult for men to admit and seek help in their situation. We'll have more on that later this month on Regional Radio. 

Get more about Willow Tree Missions and its services by visiting willowtreemissions.org or finding them on Facebook.