Early Signs of an Abusive Relationship

People in abusive relationships are good examples that hindsight is 20/20. Once the nature of the abuser becomes all but apparent, the early signs become more than just the strange quirks they were at the beginning of the relationship. While many strong men and women have escaped from these forms of relationships, there are many others that are never able to break free.

The feeling of elation that clouds a new relationship can often stop someone from seeing the little signs that there might be problems down the road. It's hard for anyone falling in love...or at least in extreme like...to find anything wrong with the person currently making them so happy. It is important though to not ignore the warning signs.

Here are just a few of the things to watch out for when starting a new relationship. Though one or two instances might not be enough to start couple's counseling, habitual instances are a definite cause for caution.

1.A quick and easy temper - Not everyone with a bad temper will take it out on someone else, including someone they love. However, someone who gets angry over small things is likely to act before thinking. Frequent bouts of temper are something to watch out for. A pension for fighting is another. If social settings show a side of this person that seems to be picking constant fights, there's a good chance that he or she has an underlying streak of violence that might not be healthy in a long term relationship.

2.Constant criticism - People in a new relationship tend to feel elated over compliments and ignore any criticism, even if it's there. Pay attention to what the person you're seeing says to and about you. Constant comments about weight, hair color, or clothing are signs that they're not going to love you for you. When image is more important to someone than what lies beneath, the relationship can become superficial and verbally abusive. When they criticize you to or in front of others, it becomes a control tactic to see how much they can humiliate you. The moment you feel your self esteem take a downward turn, it's time to rethink this relationship.