It can be difficult sometimes to let yourself believe you are being abused. It can be hard to admit you are being abused because the person hurting you doesn’t always act this way – sometimes they may be loving and kind.
It can be difficult to admit you are being abused because you love or depend on the person and maybe you are scared about what life will be like without them.
But if you often feel afraid of upsetting this person, and you change what you do to make sure they don’t get angry with you, then this is a sign that you are being abused.
Warning signs of abuse quiz
If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these, then there are signs that you are not being treated right, or that you are being abused. If you don’t feel safe, respected and cared for, then something isn’t right.
Remember, if you are being abused, it’s not your fault. Just because someone has treated you badly, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. They are the one who has done the wrong thing. You are not to blame for the abuse.
You have the right to feel safe and to live a life free from fear.
I know now, having been out of it for almost ten years that I was so accustomed to being abused that I just accepted it as being what I deserved.