The SpotLight Magazine The Spotlight Magazine / Fall / Winter 2015 | Page 105

What Are the Warning Signs?

Extreme jealousy or insecurity

Constant put-downs

Possessiveness or treating you like property

Telling you what to do

Constantly checking in on you

Explosive temper

Making false accusations

Isolating you from your friends and family

Preventing you from doing things you want to do

Domestic violence isn't just an argument every once in a while. Domestic violence describes an ongoing pattern of abusive behavior when one person chooses to control the relationship through force, fear, pressure or intimidation.

That romantic relationship can be between two people who are married, divorced, living together, dating, with kids, without kids. It can be between teenagers, young people, adults, the elderly, between a man and woman, two women, two men, two people from any race, culture, nationality, religion, and from any neighborhood, economic status or educational level... Domestic violence can affect anyone.

The abusive behavior can be physical, verbal/emotional or sexual.