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In some situations, it can take time for victims of domestic abuse to realize that they are in an abusive relationship. This is especially true when the abuse isn’t physical. Cuts and bruises are clear symptoms of abuse, but the mental and emotional scarring is not always as easy to notice and confront.
With this in mind, here are a few tips to help you determine whether or not you or a loved one are in an abusive relationship:
- Question your innermost feelings: Consider your gut instincts and inner thoughts. For example, do you ever feel afraid of your partner or avoid discussing certain topics out of fear of angering him or her? Perhaps you sometimes feel as though you can do nothing right, or have even begun to believe you deserve to be mistreated. These are all signs of abuse.
- Consider your partner’s behavior: Does your partner ever yell at you, humiliate you, put you down, criticize you unnecessarily or treat you so badly you’re worried about what your friends or family will think? Perhaps he or she treats you as property or a sex object rather than another person. These are all tell-tale signs of abusive partners.
- Determine if you have been threatened: Does your partner have an unpredictable temper? Has he or she ever threatened to hurt you in any way, or actually gone through with hurting you? In some cases, an abusive partner might even threaten to hurt or kill him or herself if you attempt to leave them.
- Analyze if your partner has tried to control you: Abusive partners often attempt to exercise a great degree of control. They tend to be jealous and possessive, and attempt to control your comings and goings and who you spend time with or talk to. They may even attempt to limit your access to a car, money or phones.
If you believe you may be a victim in an abusive marriage and need help, work with an experienced Minnesota divorce attorney at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
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