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• 4.1: Understanding Abuse
• 4.2: A Survivor’s Thoughts
• 4.3: Understanding Equality
• 4.4: The Cycle Of Abuse
• 4.5:

  Warning Signs

• 4.6: Safety Planning
• 4.7: Barriers to Leaving
• 4.8: Options To Consider
• 4.9: Domestic Violence & Children

Warning Signs

What are the Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship?

Following are some common signs that a person is or may turn out to be abusive to his intimate partner. Answering yes to one or two questions below does not necessarily mean a person is abusive. However, if any of the questions below are true to your partner, you should be cautious in this relationship and seek help and support.

Is My Partner A Person Who...

• Was abused by a parent or parent figure?
• Grew up in a home where an adult was abused by another adult?
• Gets very serious in a relationship very quickly – saying "I love you" very early in the relationship, wanting to move in together or get engaged after only a few months, or pressures their partner for a serious commitment?
• Comes on very strong, is extremely charming and an overly smooth talker?
• Is extremely jealous?
• Isolates partner from support systems – wants partner all to themselves and tries to keep partner from friends, family or outside activities?
• Attempts to control what partner wears, what she does or whom she sees?
• Is abusive towards other people, especially his mother or sisters?
• Blames others for his own misbehaviour, mistakes and choices?
• Abuses drugs or alcohol?
• Has unrealistic expectations, such as expecting you to meet all of his needs and be the perfect partner?
• Is overly sensitive – acts hurt when not getting his way, takes offense when others disagree with his opinion, gets very upset at small inconveniences that are just a normal part of life?
• Has ever been cruel to animals?
• Has ever abused children?
• Has ever hit or been controlling to a girlfriend in the past?
• Has ever threatened violence, even if they said later it wasn't a 'serious' threat.
• Calls you names, puts you down or swears at you?
• Is extremely moody and switches quickly from being nice to exploding in anger?
• Believes women are inferior to men or that men and women have certain roles just because of their gender?
• Is intimidating, for example, uses threatening body language, punches walls, or breaks objects?
• Holds you against your will to keep you from walking away or leaving the room?

Not sure why some of these questions are warning signs? Explore this website further to learn why answering yes to any of these questions is cause for you to become more aware in your relationship.