1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

Ask yourself this? Do you..

feel afraid of your partner much of the time?

avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner?

feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?

believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?

wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?

feel emotionally numb or helpless?

Do they…

humiliate or yell at you?

criticize you and put you down?

treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?

ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?

blame you for their own abusive behavior?

Love is a continuum not a cycle.

It’s unhealthy when they start with the abuse, then the guilt (not of what they’ve done but of being caught), then the excuse(BECAUSE I LOVE YOU), then the normal behavior(like nothing happened), then finding a reason to abuse you again, and then setting up a situation where they can hurt you.

It’s not love if there’s no consent

It’s not love if it’s abuse, even the smallest one, even if it happen once and stops when you give up and become passive, even when it’s not physical but it’s emotionally and verbally.

It’s not love if they control you, your money, your family, your opinions, your choices, or your rights.

Love is none of those things

Love is the warm feeling of safety

Love is the making of a better person

Love is trust

Love is affection

Love is different

Love is addicting

Love is confusing

Love can even be strange

But love will never or should ever be unhealthy.

Source: “Domestic Violence and Abuse.” Domestic Violence and Abuse: Recognizing the Signs of an Abusive Relationship and Getting Help