7 Signs Of An Abusive Relationship and Types

What is an abusive relationship

Any relationship in which one person negatively exercises control and influence over the other is referred to as abusive. Abuse may be violent, but it can also take the practice of psychological, financial, emotional, or control-wielding conduct.

Even though abusive relationships share many characteristics, each one will be a bit peculiar. Additionally, it can be challenging for those in violent relationships to recognize that they are. It’s difficult for the victim to comprehend their condition when the abuser insists that what they do is acceptable and not damaging, which is one of the most typical characteristics of an abusive relationship.

Abuse is entirely the act of the abuser; the victim is never at fault.

Individuals who are in abusive relationships may confront a wide range of troubles as a consequence of the violence, such as:

• • Feelings of loneliness

• • Disgrace

• • Sadness

• • Anxiety

• • Suicidal thoughts

• • Substance use and abuse

• • Injuries

• • Financial difficulties

While every relationship experiences some conflict, good relationships have two individuals who can differ, argue, and have their own perspectives. In abusive relationships, one person attempts to dictate the other’s emotions, ideas, or behavior. Knowing the warning signs can assist you in avoiding or leaving an abusive situation. 

Also Read: 10 Ways How To Control Your Emotions, Don’t Overreact!

Types of an abusive relationship

Abuse in relationships can take many different forms, such as:

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is the willful infliction of bodily harm, including slapping, punching, kicking, choking, biting, and shackles.

Sexual Abuse & Coercion

Nonconsensual sexual acts between partners are considered sexual abuse and compulsion. Unwanted and unwanted intercourse, including homosexual acts, rape, nudity, and sexually explicit pictures.

Mental & Emotional Abuse

Abuse of the mind and emotions is the deliberate infliction of mental or emotional suffering. Isolation, harassment, mockery, compulsion, intimidation, suppressing and controlling actions, shouting and swearing, and other spoken attempts to create mental anguish are examples of emotional abuse behaviors.

Signs of an abusive relationship

The core elements are the same, even though every abusive relationship will use a distinct set of control tactics. When two people are in an abusive relationship, one individual will use their influence over the other to keep them from undertaking anything but what the abusive person desires. The following are some warning indicators to look out for:

1. Communication Monitoring

Abusers may attempt to keep tabs on your interactions with others. They might request access to read your messages and texts, enter your gadgets without consent, or even set up monitoring software to monitor your social interactions. Usually, they’ll employ this tactic against you in the future.

2. Isolation

The victims of abusive partners are frequently isolated as well. The mean individual may spread false information about you or attempt to persuade you that your loved ones don’t really appreciate you. The objective is to remove the support networks that could otherwise enable you to end the relationship.

3. Financial Control

In some of these abusive relationships, one partner would attempt to take away the other’s ability to manage their finances. This is done to make it more difficult for the victim of abuse to quit the relationship. Your bank account may be blocked, your financial position may be kept a secret, or the abusive individual may attempt to force you to quit your employment.

4. Coercion

Forcing you to do stuff you do not desire to do, either by appealing, threatening, violence, or psychological blackmail is another frequent abuse strategy. This can apply to any action you don’t want to engage in, not only sexual behaviors. If you attempt to quit the relationship, abusive persons may use intimidation to prevent you from doing so.

5. Emotional Manipulation

Emotional abuse is among the most prevalent forms of abuse. This may consist of the following:

• • Embarrassing you before other people by insulting you

• • Causing you to believe that you are “crazy.”

• • You’re being abused

• • Making you feel bad for engaging in routine activities

In healthy partnerships, both parties work to improve the other. In abusive partnerships, one person puts the other down. 

6. Being unreasonably jealous

An abusive partner might say you’ve been dishonest or have been flirting. They frequently distance you from your loved ones and friends by acting harshly toward them.

7. Insults and Threats

They make fun of your IQ, appearance, psychological health, or skills in front of others or in private.

They consistently hold you in lower regard than others and attribute all of your relationship’s issues and violent episodes to you.

Moreover, they yell, scream, and purposefully damage valuable items. They make violent threats against you, your loved ones, your friends, or a pet.

Things you might sense in an abusive relationship

‘My partner loves me.’

Sometimes, your violent partner could show you love and genuine remorse for their heinous actions. So it might be challenging to continue to be irritated and furious with them. But the likelihood that their aggressive behavior will persist is pretty high. Abusers can be endearing, particularly if they attempt to gain your or others’ favor.

‘Things will be good in the future.’

It’s typical for you and your offender to make excuses, explanations, or pledges to improve after a violent outburst to minimize what happened. It could be complicated or even terrifying to admit what took place. Even if things seem to calm down for a while, abuse frequently recurs after a short period. Without expert assistance, it is exceedingly challenging to eradicate physical abuse in relationships and abusive behavior entirely.

‘It is not permanent

Things might be very puzzling when you’re being abused, mainly if it’s your first partnership or the first occasion your spouse has acted abusively toward you. You might not know what to anticipate coming up. Abusers frequently attempt to skew your perception of reality, confuse you, or even convince you that you are insane. This is referred to as “gaslighting.” However, if someone exhibits aggressive behavior once, they are prone to do it again.

“Perhaps it’s my fault.”

You might start to feel responsible for your partner’s abusive behavior. An abuser may justify their actions by arguing, “It wouldn’t have occurred if you hadn’t…,” for example. You are never to blame for another person’s abusive behavior, regardless of your actions.

‘What will happen if I leave them.’

It’s common to experience fear when deciding to leave an abusive partner. You can get a feeling of apprehension or fear for your safety or the person’s own safety. You can possibly think that you can’t succeed on your own. It’s critical to remember that you have access to support at every turn.

Also Read: 12 Tips How To Heal After A Toxic Relationship

Conclusion

The best thing to do if you are in an harmful relationship is to break it off and leave the abusive person. Having a strategy in place is crucial because this could be frightening. When you go, prepare your journey and inform your friends or family that you intend to break up with your partner.

You may cope with any relationship PTSD you may be suffering from, unlearn toxic relationship behaviors, and discover what constitutes healthy relationships with the aid of a counselor.