What Is An Abusive Relationship?
An abusive relationship can be characterized by extreme jealousy, emotional withholding, lack of intimacy, raging, sexual coercion, infidelity, verbal abuse, threats, lies, broken promises, physical violence, power plays and control games. Abusive relationships can involve women being abused as well as men. They are progressive, i.e., they get worse over time, not better - unless professional health is found.
How can you know for sure if you are in an abusive relationship? Listed below are questions that may help you, please check all that apply to your relationship.
[ ] Calls you names, body parts, animals
[ ] Blames you whenever he/she is hurt
[ ] Is unwilling to turn you loose
[ ] Is obsessed with you
[ ] Is a hostile, angry person in general
[ ] Appears to be distraught
[ ] Is extremely jealous, blaming you for real/imagined behavior
[ ] Experiences a high degree of tension in the relationship
[ ] Has made threats
[ ] Has had incidents of significant violence in the past
[ ] Has thoughts or desires of hurting you
[ ] Has no desire to change
[ ] Uses alcohol excessively
[ ] Kicking
[ ] Uses amphetamines (speed, cocaine, crack) or other drugs and targets you with anger while under the influence of amphetamines
[ ] Experiences the relationship as extremely tense and volatile (ups and downs)
[ ] Throwing things or punching walls
[ ] Pushing, shoving, grabbing, throwing things at you
[ ] Slapping with an open hand
[ ] Biting
[ ] Hitting with a closed fist
[ ] Attempted strangulation
[ ] Beating up (pinning to wall or floor, repeated kicks, punches)
[ ] Threatening with weapon(s)
[ ] Assault with weapon
[ ] I believe I am at risk of being physically abused by my partner in the future?
If you marked more than three and you answered yes to the final question, you need to seek professional help immediately to deal with the abusive relationship you may be in. For more information, please contact the CARELINE at (800) 662-1002.