Are You in an Abusive Relationship?

As you look over the following questions., think about how you are being treated and how you treat your partner. Remember, when one person scares, hurts or continually puts down the other person, it's abuse.

Does your partner...

  • Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends or family?
  • Deny your feelings?
  • Put down your accomplishments or goals?
  • Call you names?
  • Make you feel like you are unable to make decisions?
  • Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?
  • Hit walls, throw things, try to scare you?
  • Tell you that you are nothing without them?
  • Treat you roughly - grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?
  • Call you several times a night, constantly text you, or show up to make sure you are where you said you would be?
  • Isolate you from your friends or family?
  • Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or abusing you?
  • Blame you for how they feel or act?
  • Pressure you to do things sexually for which you aren't ready?
  • Make you feel like there "is no way out" of the relationship?
  • Act jealous of other people in your life?
  • Accuse you of cheating or sleeping around?
  • Threaten to commit suicide if you leave?

Do You...

  • Sometimes feel scared of how your partner will act?
  • Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner's behavior?
  • Believe that you can help your partner change if only you changed something about yourself?
  • Try not to do anything that would cause conflict or make your partner angry?
  • Feel like no matter what you do, your partner is never happy with you?
  • Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of what you want?
  • Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what your partner would do if you broke up?


This list originated from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence web page. Adapted from Reaching and Teaching Teens to Stop Violence, Nebraska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition, Lincoln, NE.