Warning Signs of an Abusive Person
Abuse can creep into to a relationship slowly. This can trick a woman into thinking her relationship is just hard and it is her fault.
She Might Not Know It Is Abuse
"The things I'm learning about manipulation are very eye-opening for me. I thought all these years that my husband was my best friend. I thought he was helping me. Turns out, he was just lying, and manipulating me. I have learned that my husband is not my best friend. He is the person who has been hurting me the most. He has been trying to kill my spirit and cause me not even to realize it was him." - Christy
Asking the Right Questions Can Help
When talking to a woman who is in a controlling relationship it is important to be respectful of what she has experienced and the confusion the abuser has created in her life. A domestic abuse survivor wrote to us and gave us a list of questions she would ask if she was "talking to a woman and trying to figure out if she is in an abusive relationship (even if she doesn't know it).
Download QuestionsRed Flags & Warning Signs
may include but are NOT limited to:
- Extreme jealousy
- Possessiveness
- Unpredictability
- A bad temper
- Cruelty to animals
- Verbal abuse
- Extremely controlling behavior
- Antiquated beliefs about roles of women and men in relationships
- Forced sex or disregard of their partner’s unwillingness to have sex
- Sabotage of birth control methods or refusal to honor agreed upon methods
- Blaming the victim for anything bad that happens
- Sabotage or obstruction of the victim’s ability to work or attend school
- Controls all the finances
- Abuse of other family members, children or pets
- Accusations of the victim flirting with others or having an affair
- Control of what the victim wears and how they act
- Demeaning the victim either privately or publicly
- Embarrassment or humiliation of the victim in front of others
- Harassment of the victim at work
There is no excuse for abuse.
Scripture and faith can be used as a weapon to control a woman. This is not what God intended.
Do you know what abuse in a Christian marriage can look like?
Understanding Spiritual AbuseWhat IS a Healthy Relationship?
It can be hard to know what a healthy relationship looks like, especially for someone that has been been in a controlling and manipulative relationship.
She might think her relationship is just hard and that everyone experiences similar things behind closed doors. It is important to help her understand the difference is between normal relationship conflict and abuse.
We have 2 blog articles you can use as a conversation starter.
