Red Flags of Relationship Abuse for Teens and Adults - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Are you in an abusive relationship?  Does your spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend:

• Act jealous and possessive
• Constantly criticize you
• Blame you for problems
• Make you feel guilty
• Control your time and activities
• Text or instant message (IM) excessively
• Monitor email or profile on social networking sites
• Isolate you from friends and family

Know the Different Forms of Abuse

Abuse is defined as "the use of power and control within an intimate relationship that threatens a person's well-being."  -- Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis

• Emotional - ignoring feelings, playing mind games, being jealous and possessive
• Verbal - yelling, calling names, insults, put downs, threats
• Sexual abuse - not listening to ‘no', rude comments, unwanted touch
• Physical abuse - hurting a person physically, destroying property, using weapons

Do any of these describe your relationship?

• Does your partner continually criticize you? What you wear? What you say? Your beliefs? How you act or how you look?
• Does your partner accuse you of having an affair, or harass you about where you go and who you spend time with?
• Does your partner often call you insulting and degrading names?
• Has your partner threatened to hurt you or your children?
• Has your partner ever pushed, shoved, or slapped you?
• Has your partner failed to respect your right to say "no" to a sexual activity?
• Does your partner keep or take your paycheck, prevent you from getting or keeping a job, or not contribute to the household financially?
• Does your partner use looks or gestures to scare you, threaten to use a weapon against you, or destroy property?
• Does it seem that no matter what you do, everything is your fault?
• Does your partner text or instant message (IM) you excessively?
• Does your partner monitor your email or profile on social networking sites?
• Does your partner isolate you  from friends and family?

These are abusive behaviors.

If you need help:  "HELPLINE/2-1-1" at 317-926-HELP(4357) or the Statewide Domestic Abuse Hotline 1-800-332-7385. You can also visit Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis online at http://www.dvnconnect.org/.