Signs Of Abusive Relationships...

A relationship can be considered abusive of the following signs were present:
•    Your partner always puts you down through continues criticism
•    Your partner tries to over control you. The abuser usually do so in order to prevent you from leaving him and it’s a clear sign of abuse/
•    Blaming you for his abusive behavior
•    feeling afraid of your partner all the time is a strong sign of an abusive relationship.
•    Your partner threatens to hurt you, kill you or to commit suicide. The abuser uses
this method in order to have more control over you
•    One of the signs that are always present in abusive relationship is intense jealousy, the abuser will usually feel jealous of your friends and your family members
•    Destroying your belongings or borrowing your money without repaying
•    The abusive partner will usually shout, scream and intimidate you
•    The abusive partner will consider you an object rather than a human being
•    The more you stay with your abusive partner the more he damages your self confidence
 

Trust Betrayed
[ This publication was supported in part by a grant from the 93.991 Preventive Health Services Block Grant, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services.]

Warning signs
The following is a list of signs common to abusive and battering personalities. Though this list may not predict with absolute certainty, it is a good place to start.

Jealousy
•    Is suspicious about everybody with whom you speak
•    Wants to be with you constantly
•    Tries to turn you against your parents

Controlling behaviors
•    Tries to decide what you do and with whom you spend time
•    Gives orders and expects you to follow them
•    Hides controlling behavior behind pretending to be concerned about your safety

Quick Involvement
•    Pressures you to go steady right away
•    Claims love at first sight

Unfair Expectations
•    Expects you to put up with quickly changing moods
•    Expects you to be available all of the time
•    Expects you to forgive and forget immediately

Isolation
•    Discourages you from spending time with your friends
•    Puts down everyone you know including your family and friends

Blames Others for Problems and Feelings
•    If there are problems at school or at work it is always someone else’s fault
•    Blames you for everything that goes wrong in the relationship

Overly Sensitive
•    Is easily insulted
•    Sees everything as personal attacks
•    Blows things out of proportion

Force Used in Sex
•    Asks you to do things you do not want to do
•    Uses sulking or anger to manipulate you into "giving in."

Verbal Abuse
•    Puts you down in front of other friends
•    Makes you feel stupid

Rigid Sex Roles
•    Believes males and females must act certain ways and do certain things

History of Battering
•    Was violent/abusive to partners in previous relationships

Threats of Violence
•    Breaks or strikes objects near you in order to frighten you

Force Used During an Argument
•    Yells and curses during an argument in order to scare you into agreeing.

If, after going through this list, you hear yourself saying, "That’s exactly what my partner does" then you have reason to be concerned.