Am I In An Abusive Relationship?
Understanding Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is often called an “equal opportunity epidemic” because it affects women, men, teens, seniors, and children of every ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood.
You may be unsure if what you’re experiencing is abuse, especially if physical violence is not present. However, domestic violence comes in many forms, including emotional, verbal, sexual, financial, spiritual, and technological abuse.
If you feel afraid in your relationship, that can be a strong indicator that abuse is taking place. It’s also important to remember that abuse often escalates; verbal or emotional abuse can, and frequently does, lead to physical violence.
Being abused is not your fault. You are not responsible for ending the abuse or fixing the situation, but you do have the right to protect yourself. The information below may help you increase your safety during or after an abusive relationship.
Every abusive situation is unique, and certain strategies may not apply to your circumstances. You are the expert of your own experience. We encourage you to trust your instincts about what feels safe.
You don’t have to do this alone! We are here to help.
identifying Red flags
Does your partner do any of the following?
Recognizing red flags for domestic violence is crucial for early intervention and support. Relationship violence encompasses a range of behaviors and may start out subtly. It’s important to notice changes in behavior. Recognizing these signs can be the first step in helping someone in a dangerous situation find safety and support.
Understanding Power and Control Tactics
Abuse is any attempt to gain power or control over another person using physical, emotional or sexual tactics. The ‘Wheel’ shows that Power and Control are at the center of an abusive relationship. In other words, abuse is when there is a pattern of one person trying to gain power and control over the other.
One of the most obvious or blatant ways to control another person is by using violence – such as hitting a person, holding them down, or sexually assaulting someone. However, there are other ways of controlling a person that do not include physical violence and are not so easy to spot. Instead of using physical or sexual violence, many abusers may use verbal, emotional, psychological, or financial tactics to control the other person. Some examples of these forms of abuse are shown between the wheel’s spokes. They are more subtle (not so obvious), so often people do not recognize them as abuse. But they are abuse, and they often lead to physical violence. The wheels below differentiate between non-violence and violence.
The opposite of an abusive relationship {one based on power and control) is a healthy relationship, which is based on Equality. When both people in a relationship believe they are equal, and neither tries to gain power or control over the other, the result is a non-violent and healthy relationship. The ‘Equality Wheel’ shows equality as the center of a healthy relationship. Inside the ‘spokes’ of the wheel are examples of behaviors that go on in a relationship based on equality.
If you or someone you know might be experiencing domestic violence, Call or Text our Advocates.
24-Hour Helpline: 937.426.2334
937.46.233