Warning Signs of Abusive Relationships
You may be in an abusive relationship if he or she:
- Is jealous or possessive toward you
- Tries to control you by being bossy or demanding
- Tries to isolate you by demanding you cut off social contacts and friendships
- Is violent and / or loses his or her temper quickly
- Accuses you of being unfaithful or flirting
- Control all finances and forces you to account for what you spend
- Constantly criticize or belittle you
- Humiliates you in front of others
- Destroy or take your personal property or sentimental items
- Threatens to hurt you, your children or pets
- Threatens to use a weapon to harm you
- Push, hit, slap, punch, kick, or bite you or your children?
- Pressures you sexually, demands sexual activities you are not comfortable with
- Abuses drugs or alcohol
- Claims you are responsible for his or her emotional state.
- Blames you when he or she mistreats you
- Has a history of bad relationships
- Your family and friends have told you that they are concerned for your safety
- You frequently worry about how he or she will react to things you say or do
- Makes "jokes" that shame, humiliate, demean or embarrass you, whether privately or around family and friends
- Grew up witnessing an abusive parental relationship, and/or was abused as a child
- Abuses animals