But the question remains, how to notice that you’re in an abusive relationship? What are the warning signs you should pay attention to? Before we get to that, keep in mind that you should never blame yourself and that you’re not alone in your life, even though you may feel that way. And if you’re afraid that you may be stranded with an abusive partner, the article below will tell you whether your fears might be warranted. Here are six signs that your relationship is physically and emotionally abusive.
Domination And Control
Domination and control are perfect examples of mental abuse. If your partner always tells you what to do, forbids you to go out with your friends, and wants to control every aspect of your life, it may be time to end the relationship. The only problem is that if they watch your every step, breaking up can be extremely challenging. Your partner will instantly see if you’re looking for information on how much gold is worth to get money for a lawyer who’ll be able to help you in court. That might lead to threats and increased abuse.
Humiliation
Does your partner like to humiliate you with inappropriate jokes and comments? You may think that it’s just their sense of humor, but if you feel hurt and your partner still puts you down, it means that they don’t respect you. Making comments about your intelligence, appearance, or shameful situations are the most common tactics. As soon as you see that these “jokes” are getting out of hand, your partner uses emotional abuse to dominate you.
Mental And Physical Abuse
Domestic violence is a common problem in the US. According to various statistics, it affects almost 10 million Americans every year. Usually, it includes physical abuse, but verbal and mental aggression is widespread as well. Unfortunately, while you can quickly notice when things start getting physical, mental violence can sometimes be challenging to see. Your partner can abuse you verbally and mentally without you knowing, with threats, humiliating comments, and provocations being the most common examples.
Unpredictable Mood Swings
One of the most common ways of telling that your relationship is getting abusive is not knowing how your partner is going to behave. If you notice that your other half has unpredictable mood swings, that means something isn’t right. Not being able to predict the face your partner is going to show, creates a sense of uncertainty. That can lead to you feeling anxious or even afraid when your partner is around. And if that’s the case, it’s high time to end this.
Manipulations and Provocations
Was the soup too salty? Is the house not cleaned well enough? If such provocations sound familiar, it means that your partner is emotionally abusive. If you feel that the other person tries to provoke and manipulate you into starting a fight, something is not right. What’s more, certain provocations often lead to physical violence. Another person simply waits until you break, and then has a cause to hit you.
Guilt Trips
One of the most common behaviors among abusive people is that they love to manipulate you into blaming yourself for their actions. They tell you that it’s your fault that they hurt you. They send you on guilt trips, which slowly convince you that they may be right. You start to think that there’s something wrong with you. Maybe it is your fault? What if you’re not good enough? Such questions start gathering in your head, making you feel terrible and anxious about yourself. Never allow the other person to walk all over you like that.
What Next?
If you notice such behaviors in your relationship, don’t let them control your life. Fight back and seek help from your friends and family. You might feel like you’re alone, but many people are here to help you. Keep in mind that the sooner you take action, the better. If you wait until it’s too late, things can get out of hand. If the other person starts abusing you physically, you should immediately report it. Reach out to your national domestic violence hotline, and get as far away from the other person as possible.
Don’t let things go too far. Take all the necessary actions now.
