Is My Partner Abusing Me?

Domestic violence is a cycle of power and control. In these relationships the abuser seeks to have complete power and control of his/her partner. This type of violence may be physical, emotional, or psychological. The abuser seeks to control the victim through fear and/or ridicule. Not all abusers are physically aggressive towards the domestic violence victim. Most of the time we think of the abuser as a husband or boyfriend however it can be a female as well. Domestic violence occurs in heterosexual and homosexual relationships. Unfortunately in these types of relationships the early warning signs are taken for granted.

Different types of people abuse but they have similar traits in common. Those abusers in relationships with domestic violence are seeking control. These people are easily disturbed, annoyed and very jealous. Many times they use guilt to make their victim stay with them. These abusers can also be described as clingy. They do not want the victim to go places without him/her and may even isolate the victim from family and friends. Everything revolves around the world of the abuser. You may hear them say things like, how could you do this to me or you will never leave me.

There are a few early signs you can keep a watch out for to ensure you will not become a victim of domestic violence. If your partner is moving too fast towards a more serious relationship you may want to take a look at other behaviors. Moving at a fast pace is common factor, but it is not always a definite sign of future abuse. If this person is possessive and becomes jealous easily continue to make mental notes. Also ask questions about the person's past relationships. How long did the relationships occur? Why did they break up? What did s/he dislike the most about the relationship? When you ask these questions you are looking for a pattern of past incidents of domestic violence. If your partner mentions s/he argued often with the past partner you may have another red flag.