People in abusive relationships may not realize they are in one until it's too late or at a critical point. An abusive relationship is characterized by one partner domineering the other through physical, mental, emotional or financial control and manipulation. Learn to recognize the early signs of a possibly abusive relationship so you can avoid the heartache and trauma an abusive relationship causes by ending the relationship or seeking help.
Anger Issues
If your relationship partner exhibits signs of having a bad temper, angry outbursts or frequent anger, this is a red flag that your partner could become abusive. Abusive partners often have issues with unresolved anger and have difficulty expressing their anger and frustrations in healthy ways. If your partner or spouse frequently blames you or everyone else for life's problems and shows intense anger toward you or others as a result, you may be dealing with an abuser. If your lover yells at you or launches into angry verbal assaults against you, this is verbal abuse. If your partner threatens or carries out physical violence toward you, your children or animals, you are in a physically abusive relationship and should seek immediate help.
Jealousy
If your partner is often jealous, this can be an early sign of an abusive relationship. Jealousy is a normal feeling for everyone from time to time, but when it becomes a strong force in the relationship, it means the jealous person is insecure, and may start to become controlling as a result. If your partner often questions you about where you've been or who you talk to, or accuses you of flirting or cheating, these are red flags that signal excessive jealousy. If your partner tries to control where you go and to whom you speak, these are abusive behaviors.
Mind Games
An abusive partner uses mind games and manipulation to make the other person feel at fault and worthless. If your partner criticizes you often, humiliates you in public, always insists that he is right, competes with you and accuses you of being crazy, wrong or worthless, your partner is using abusive mind games. If you feel like your self-esteem is lower when you are around your lover, or you feel inadequate, stupid or like you can't do anything right, before you blame yourself, stop and pay attention to your partner's actions to make sure he is not manipulating you or giving you these ideas.
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