Women who get involved with abusive men are
typically those who had abusive childhood home environments. This
kind of upbringing tends to normalize abusive behavior in all
relationships. What this means is that women from this kind of a
background are not as keen to the subtleties of abuse the way
"healthy" women are.
On a positive note, there is a silver lining here-all behavior
can be relearned, including the ability to recognize early signs of
abuse as unacceptable behaviors in a relationship. Once this is
learned, a woman will be able to break free from unhealthy
relationships with men who are no good for her.
Below is a list of common abusive behaviors to watch for:
Criticism about your good qualities;
Past abusive relationships;
Criminal activities;
Drinking or drug problems, past or present;
Mood swings;
Discourages your successes;
Jealousy;
Abusive family members or spouses of siblings;
Attempts to control your whereabouts;
Disrespect toward your publicly or privately;
Violations of others rights;
Irresponsibility;
Attempts to keep you isolated;
Persistent lying;
History of truancy, delinquency and running away;
Highly reactive;
Streaks of meanness toward others for no reason;
Threatened by relationships with other men, past, present or
imagined.
In order to recognize early abusive signs, a woman must stop
rationalizing "abusive" behaviors as "normal." If she sees ONE
abusive behavior, regardless of how small, she needs to remind
herself that it IS abuse. Period! With this new skill, she will soon
be dating men who treat her with dignity and respect-the way all
women deserve to be treated.
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