Spotting The Signs - Friends and Family

It happens regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, race or economic background.  If you are being abused by your partner, you may feel confused, afraid, angry and/or trapped.  All of these emotions are normal responses to abuse.  You might also blame yourself for what is happening.

But, no matter what others might say, you are never responsible for your partner’s abusive actions.

Being abusive is a choice.

It’s not always easy to tell at the beginning of a relationship if it will become abusive.

In fact, many abusive partners may seem absolutely perfect in the early stages of a relationship. Possessive and controlling behaviours don’t always appear overnight, but rather emerge and intensify as the relationship grows.

Domestic abuse doesn’t look the same in every relationship because every relationship is different.  But one thing most abusive relationships have in common is that the abusive partner does many different kinds of things to have more power and control over their partner.