Nobody has the right to abuse you. Be it physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, economic, mental, or even spiritual abuse, it’s wrong, and no one should be subjected to it. Each type of abuse can be extremely damaging and leave physical and emotional scars that could stay with the survivor for years to come.
People don’t dive into abusive relationships. It happens slowly, as they become more entrenched in their relationship, they relinquish their lives an inch at a time. Abusers hold themselves back until they’ve gained your trust and love. It may start off small, but over time, it can escalate.
In my case, I knew something wasn’t right. I could feel it deep down. I just couldn’t put a finger on it. To me, it was just the way things were. I didn’t know any better, and there was no one to ask. I was isolated. My abuser did a good job at keeping me isolated from my friends and family. If I did go out with my friends, there was always some sort of guilt trip or punishment waiting for me when I can back. It got to where I wouldn’t even ask if I could go out with the guys, because it would take too much effort to get permission. I walked on egg shells at the house. keeping my head down, so that I wouldn’t accidentally wake the beast, or stir up trouble. Had I known then what I know now, I would have escaped my tormentor years earlier. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
There are many signs that you are in an abusive relationship. Knowing the warning signs might help you recognize that you are not being treated like you should. I found this video that highlights some of those warning signs. There are many more videos out there. I encourage you to watch as many as you can stomach. You might find it difficult to keep watching as some of the descriptions hit close to home. Always be mindful when watching videos about domestic violence. If you start to feel yourself building up anxiety, or spinning up, press pause and allow yourself time to re-center, and resume the video later.
//twd