Signs of an abusive relationship, READ!

Your Inner Thoughts and Feelings
Do you:

feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?

Your Partner’s Belittling Behavior
Does your partner:

humiliate or yell at you?
criticize you and put you down?
treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
blame you for his own abusive behavior?
see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?

Your Partner’s Violent Behavior or Threats
Does your partner:

have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you? 
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?

Your Partner’s Controlling Behavior
Does your partner:

act excessively jealous and possessive?
control where you go or what you do?
keep you from seeing your friends or family?
limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
constantly check up on you?


Abuse doesn't have to be physical, although when people consider abuse they think of the bruises and the injuries. Mental and emotional abuse is far crueler, leaves much deeper wounds and is not always visible.


Abusers use a variety of tactics to manipulate you and exert their power:
1) Dominance
2) Humiliation
3) Isolation
4) Threats
5) Intimidation
6) Denial and blame


Cycle of Violence:
1) Abuse
2) Guilt (excuses and apologies)
3) Normal behavior/honeymoon (acts on the apologies behaves normally)
4) set up/limbo period (starts thinking of what you've done wrong, sets you up)
5) back to Abuse


General warning signs of domestic abuse
People who are being abused may:

Seem afraid or anxious to please their partner.
Go along with everything their partner says and does.
Check in often with their partner to report where they are and what they’re doing.
Receive frequent, harassing phone calls from their partner.
Talk about their partner’s temper, jealousy, or possessiveness.

Warning signs of physical violence
People who are being physically abused may:
Have frequent injuries, with the excuse of “accidents.”
Frequently miss work, school, or social occasions, without explanation.
Dress in clothing designed to hide bruises or scars (e.g. wearing long sleeves in the summer or sunglasses indoors).

Warning signs of isolation
People who are being isolated by their abuser may:
Be restricted from seeing family and friends.
Rarely go out in public without their partner.
Have limited access to money, credit cards, or the car.

The psychological warning signs of abuse
People who are being abused may:
Have very low self-esteem, even if they used to be confident.
Show major personality changes (e.g. an outgoing woman becomes withdrawn).
Be depressed, anxious, or suicidal.

Do not attempt to confront someone you think is an abuser, get yourself or your loved one to a safe place and call this number for more information.
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) – A crisis intervention and referral phone line for domestic violence. (Texas Council on Family Violence) 


From me: Life is short, don't give yours away to an abusive toxic relationship. Start loving yourself today. If you think you may be in an abusive relationship, there are people who can help, you are not alone. Seriously, your one of millions.
xoxo 

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