There’s a growing awareness around the signs of coercive control. Just last year, a new UK law was introduced to target perpetrators who submit partners, spouses, or other family members to serious psychological and emotional torment, but stop short of violence – and they can now face up to five years in prison.

However, for many men and women trapped in emotionally abusive relationships, it can be difficult to recognise the warning signs.

These can include (but are not limited to) the following:

Your partner constantly criticises, humiliates or belittles you
Your partner checks up on you or follows you
Your partner tries to keep you from seeing your friends or family
Your partner has prevented you or made it hard for you to continue studying or going to work
Your partner unjustly accuses you of flirting or having affairs with others
Your partner has forced you to do something that you really did not want to do
Your partner has deliberately destroyed any of your possessions
You have changed your behaviour because you are afraid of what your partner might do or say to you
Your partner controls your finances
Your partner talks down to you
Your partner has strong opinions on what you should wear and your appearance
Your partner has tried to prevent you from leaving your house
Your partner has forced you or harassed you into performing a sexual act
Your partner has threatened to reveal or publish private information
Your partner threatens to hurt him or herself if you leave them
Your partner witholds medication from you
Your partner makes you feel guilty all the time
Your partner blames you for their bad moods and outbursts
You are afraid of your partner

Emotional abuse, essentially, sees your partner bully and berate you as they slowly chip away at your self-esteem. To others, they may seem charming – but, behind closed doors, it’s a very different story. And, all the while, they work hard to cut you off from the people you love and who might be able to recognise your relationship for what it is; toxic.

If you are worried that you might be the victim of emotional abuse, it’s quite likely that you are. If these signs of an abusive relationship sound all too familiar to you, then get out of that situation as soon as possible.

If you have suffered from domestic abuse of any kind, contact Woman’s Aid here, or call the free National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. You can also contact Refuge by clicking here.

Images: Interval House

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