About Domestic abuse
What are the signs?
If you are changing your behaviour because you are afraid of your partner's reaction, this may be abuse. Many women experience domestic abuse without being physically harmed; non-physical violence can be just as destructive and disempowering.
Types of abuse
Psychological/emotional abuse- such as insults, threats and manipulation, blaming or devaluing.
- Economic abuse: controlling your access to money or salary, stops you from working, or put you into debt without your knowledge or consent.
- Sexual abuse does not have to be physical. Your partner may manipulate, deceive or force you to do things you don't want to do.
- Coercive control- when an abuser uses a pattern of behavior over time to exert power and control.
Physical abuse- most often hitting, but he may hold you, choke you or throw objects. He may pinch or push you and claim it is a "joke".
Cyber abuse- can send abusive messages, demand access to your devices, spy your socialmedia accounts, track you with spyware or share photos of you online.
20 signs of an abuser
| ⬤ | Easily and often angered, even by things most people don't pay attention to |
| ⬤ | Aims to be the center of attention, but feels intimidated by other people whom he perceives as competitors |
| ⬤ | Often is arrogant, speaks with a sense of superiority, and when provoked can become violent |
| ⬤ | Extremely jealous |
| ⬤ | Thinks of himself as the last resort, the final authority |
| ⬤ | Incapable of sympathy and empathy for the emotions of others |
| ⬤ | Lies, manipulates, projects blame and responsibility on everyone but himself |
| ⬤ | Switches often between adoration and belittling with ease |
| ⬤ | Repeats the same patterns of behavior, does not learn from his mistakes |
| ⬤ | Always finds justification for everything he causes you, no matter how cruel it is |
| ⬤ | Prone to passive or overt aggression |
| ⬤ | Punishes you for your "mistakes", usually out of proportion |
| ⬤ | Uses the threat of leaving you, but doesn't let you leave him |
| ⬤ | Belittles you, makes you feel unworthy |
| ⬤ | Adopts the role of the victim, and turns you into the aggressor |
| ⬤ | He thinks that everything in your common life is due to him, and after a possible separation he thinks that everything in common belongs to him by right |
| ⬤ | Believes that you are to blame for ending the relationship |
| ⬤ | He may try to keep you or continue contact after the relationship ends to harass you. May also try to manipulate your new partner |
| ⬤ | Easily replaces you with a new partner and moves on relatively easily with his life |