I think the violence is accented out there because it's life threatening. It's like the difference between a robbery and a rape to me; they're both traumatic and one often wants therapy to work with the aftereffects but the rape is a different "class". Violent spouses can kill! Adults can walk away from non-violent abusers; it's not easy and, because of some of our backgrounds, we don't, but it is "possible". Violent abusers stalk and threaten life and limb. That's a whole different sort of problem to deal with than another adult just putting one down constantly and "pounding" on one verbally or emotionally.

My stepmother was abusive but I literally could not get away because I was a child. When we grow up, we choose to enter into relationships and having to figure out we've made a bad choice and getting out of a relationship is an adult's task and not something someone else has to, or even can, do for them. However, violent abusive relationships require outside assistance; being an adult isn't enough, there's no way to get out of the relationship by one's self.

I don't mind that domestic violence type of abuse is accented; emotional and verbal abuse aren't limited to the domestic scene; one can have an abusive boss, etc. There's really no way to categorize verbal or emotional abuse, either; so much depends on the relationship itself and the two people involved, their histories and the relationship's. Domestic violence though is clear cut, obvious, and must be stopped, must have priority.