Many people think domestic abuse has to involve violence. While violence is a part of many abusive relationships, there are many different types of abuse you can experience.
Whether violent, emotional or otherwise, being in an abusive relationship affects your self-esteem and causes trauma that can take years to recover from.
Fortunately, there are several early signs of an abusive relationship to watch for so you can leave an abusive partner and save yourself the pain and heartache.
If you are in a relationship you are not sure about, or you just want to be prepared for the future, here are several signs of an abusive partner:
1. Hypercriticism
One of the many signs of domestic abuse is being overly critical of everything you do. An abuser will point out everything they consider to be a mistake. They are relentless in their criticism, and this can result in feeling like you are walking on eggshells.
2. Humiliation
Abusers love to humiliate their victims. Generally, this will happen in front of a third party or even a crowd of people. If you are finding yourself dreading social interaction due to being constantly humiliated, you are likely being abused.
3. Controlling Behavior
One of the most common signs of an abuser is their controlling behavior. They’ll want to control everything you do, down to the smallest detail. This controlling behavior often intensifies in certain situations, such as social distancing.
4. Jealousy
Jealousy is one of the warning signs of domestic violence. Many abusers equate jealousy with love and it can be tempting to feel flattered by the attention. Unfortunately, the jealousy will soon turn serious and you may experience rage just from interacting with another person or from unfounded accusations.
5. Blame
Blame is also one of the signs of spousal abuse. Abusers will blame you for everything that goes wrong in their life, even when it is not within your control. You may also be blamed for their feelings and their abusive behavior.
6. Isolation
Isolation is a common sign of abuse and oftentimes a precursor to domestic violence. An abuser will isolate you so you are completely dependent on him or her. This can be physical, by moving away, or emotional, by not allowing you to have relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances.
7. Threats
If you are in a relationship and your partner has threatened you, it is likely time to leave. Threats usually start out small but get more serious over time. Threatening behavior can be destroying items you value, threatening your loved one with violence, or threatening you with violence.
