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.
