What is abuse?

Have you ever been in an abusive relationship?

All relationships run into difficulty at sometime, but sometimes one partner becomes abusive. The abusive partner chooses to have power and control over the other person.

This is not a relationship issue, it is abuse. Abuse is behaviour aimed at having full power and control over the other person. It can be physical, emotional,psychological, verbal and sexual. If a child is a witness to the abuse then they too will be effected.

 

Signs of abusive behaviour

• Threatening to ‘out’ you to family, friends or your employer
• Controlling your finances and keeping you short of money
• Making major decisions without consulting you
• Blaming you for ‘making them abuse you’
• Calling you names, or saying that you are a bad person
• Making it difficult for you to see your friends or family
• Threatening to hurt pets or members of your family
• Phoning or texting you all the time to check where you are
• Being scared for your safety
• Refusing to use your preferred pronoun, or calling you “it”
• Threatening to take the children away or using them against you
• Treating you like a servant 
• Hiding your hormone or, anti retro viral drugs or any other medication you rely on
• Smashing your processions
• Taking away your car keys so you can’t go out
• Refusing to practise safe sex
• Threatening to throw you out of your home.

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