Am I In An Abusive Relationship?

  • ISOLATION

    Restricting Freedoms:

    • Tells you that you can not do something

    • Jealous about who you see

    • Monitors your time, makes you account for where you were

    • Does not allow you to leave the house

    • Makes it difficult for you to get a job

    • Restricts your use of the car

    • Tries to prevent you from contacting family

    • Alienates you from family and friends

    • Turns children against you

    • Keeps you from getting medical care

    • Withholds affection to punish you

    • Tries to turn people against you

  • ECONOMIC ABUSE

    • Makes you account for all of the money that you spend

    • Keeps you short of money

    • Makes you ask for basic necessities

    • Undermines your attempts to improve your education

    • Undermines your attempts to get or keep a job

    • Controls the money

    • Makes you ask for money

    • Refuses to give you money

    • Makes all major decisions about money without consulting you

    • Spends money only on things they wants

  • THREATS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE

    Threatens to:

    • Turn people against you

    • Leave the relationship

    • See someone else

    • Take children away from you

    • Leave you short of money

    • Come after you if you leave

    • Have you committed to an institution

    • Hurt or kill you and/or the children

    • Hurt or kill himself/herself

    • Blames you for their problems

    • Drives the car in a frightening way

    • Have someone else kill you, your family, your friends etc.

  • PHYSICAL ABUSE

    • Throws something at you

    • Pushes, grabs or shoves you

    • Pulls your hair

    • Twists your arm

    • Pins you to the wall, floor, bed

    • Chokes you

    • Kicks, hits or punches you

    • Hits, or tries to hit you with something

    • Threatens you with a knife, gun or other weapon

    • Tries to run you down with the car

    • Physically and/or sexually abuses the children

    • Kills pets

    • Deprives you of sleep

  • EMOTIONAL ABUSE

    • Says things to spite or insult you in front of others

    • Puts down your physical appearance

    • Behaves as though you are stupid

    • Criticizes your care of children/home

    • Calls you names and swears at you

    • Tells you you are crazy/irrational

    • Accuses you of having an affair

    • Ridicules family or friends

    • Does not show concern for children's needs or concerns

    • Gets angry when children cry or make demands

    • Goes through personal things ie: purse, drawers, pockets

    • Frightens children's friends so they stop coming over

  • SEXUAL ABUSE

    • Withholds sex to punish you

    • Pressures you to have sex

    • Forces you to have sex against your will

    • Pressures you to have sex after being abused

    • Pressures or forces you into unwanted sex acts

    • Treats you like a sex object

    • Inflicts pain on you during sex

  • ANGER AND INTIMIDATION

    Shows this by:

    • Changing their mood suddenly

    • Giving you the silent treatment

    • Demonstrating anger

    • Shouting or yelling

    • Pounding fist on table

    • Hitting the wall

    • Throwing or kicking something

    • Stomping out of the room/house

  • PARTNER PRIVILEGE

    • Demands obedience like you were a servant

    • Makes decisions without your input

    • Treats you like you were inferior

    • Tells you that you can't cope without them

    • Treats you like a child

CONTACT US

If you answered “yes’ to any of the red-flags above, you may want to further examine your relationship. A great way to start is by calling our 24 hour hotline at 613-332-3010.

You can call any time of day, and we will always be here to listen, offer support, and be non-judgemental.