Physical distance after separation or divorce means that emotional abuse tends to be more common than physical abuse. In some cases, perpetrators will begin abusing their ex-partner after separation, even if abuse has not been a feature of the relationship. It can have long-term effects leading to trust issues and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. For separated partners who have children together, this can be particularly difficult as co-parenting is unlikely to work. Moreover, children can be used as a vehicle for abuse. For older people experiencing post separation abuse this maybe financial or economic abuse restricting access to money pressure to change wills or resources such as phones or medical aids. Perpetrators may also withhold access to pets as a way of punishing their victims.