Does your partner seem to be rushing into a relationship? When you attempt to slow things down, do they brush aside your concerns, and just elaborate on how much they care about you? Have they ever said something like ‘I would die without you’? All of these signs point to someone who is too needy and dependent and may be looking for someone to control, rather than love.

Does your partner get upset when you want to spend time with friends or family? Abusers want you to be completely dependent on them alone, so you will have no one to go to when things get bad. To do this, they may create conflict between themselves and your friends, monitor your phone use, or even put limits on where you can go.

Does your partner question you about who you have been with and your faithfulness? Jealousy often is used as another way to limit your movement, although it is also a sure sign of low self-esteem. Moreover, jealousy is often times used as an excuse to be violent.

Does your partner want to take care of all of your finances? Do you have to ask for money to even buy simple things? If you have no money, it makes it that much more difficult to leave.

Does your partner seem to have no respect for your things? Do you often see your partner mistreating your pets? Many times an abuser will use things you care about to get back at you.

Does your partner seem to always be putting you down? Does it seem like nothing you do is good enough or right? Does it seem like ever time you make a mistake, even in public, you are getting yelled at? Do you feel like you are apologizing for things that aren’t your fault? If you are constantly told you are worthless or bad, then you begin to believe that you deserve that treatment. Emotional and verbal abuses are definite precursors to physical abuse.

Even if your partner shows some of these signs, it may never turn violent. However each of these behaviors are a warning sign that that person doesn’t respect you or your autonomy.