Is your partner abusive? Signs you may be in an abusive relationship.

Are you in an abusive relationship? Are you unsure if your partner's behaviour is abusive? You're not alone. Many people are surprised when they realise that what they are experiencing is abuse and not just a "rough patch."

The first step to getting help is being able to identify the issues, so this list will help with that. This list does not cover every possible scenario of abuse; it's meant to give you some basic information about common signs. If any of these apply to you, it doesn't mean that your situation is hopeless or even necessarily bad — only that there might be issues worth exploring further. It's always best to talk things over with someone who cares about both parties' well-being before making any big decisions like moving out or calling the police.

Your partner's anger is frightening.

Of course, it's important to note that anger is a normal emotion. It can be a good thing when expressed healthily. However, if you're afraid of your partner's anger or afraid to say no to him or her because of how he or she reacts when angry, this can be a sign that you're involved in an abusive relationship.

You feel like you always have to walk on eggshells in your relationship.

If you’re in an abusive relationship, you may feel like you always have to walk on eggshells. You may be afraid to say or do the wrong thing, so you constantly try to avoid conflict by changing your behaviour and words around your partner. The problem with this is that it makes it hard for your partner to trust you; if they can’t count on you being consistent, they won’t be able to rely on anything else either.

It's important to remember that no one has the right to tell anyone else who they can or cannot be friends with (and likewise no one should ever feel pressured into leaving friendships). If your partner tries to control how much time or money is spent on activities outside of the home—or even worse threatens violence against those who might interfere with these demands—then this may indicate an abusive dynamic.

You feel afraid to say no.

This is one of the most important signs of an abusive relationship, and if you find yourself feeling this way a lot, it's time to think about getting out. If your partner tends to do things that you don't want them to do or don't like, but you don't speak up about it because of fear, then that's a sign that they're being abusive toward you. Saying "no" is a crucial part of any healthy relationship—it allows both partners in the relationship to have their autonomy and self-determination as individuals.

It's also okay for one person in the relationship (that would be YOU) to ask for some space or time alone once in a while; this doesn't mean that they don't love their partner anymore. It just means they need some space now and again so they can recharge themselves mentally before coming back together with their significant other at home later

The violence seems to come out of nowhere.

If your partner's violence is not predictable, it means that you never know when a situation might turn violent. You can't always gauge their moods or how they'll respond to things. The violence may also be triggered by seemingly small things like an insult or a minor disagreement. The smallest incident could set off the sudden rage that leads to physical abuse.

If the abuse happens after some type of provocation—even something as trivial as looking at them funny—it indicates that they are quick to anger and cannot control themselves in certain situations, which is another sign of abusive behaviour.

Your partner blames you or others for their problems or mistakes.

If a partner blames you or others for their problems or mistakes, they're likely trying to avoid taking responsibility. By blaming someone else, they're effectively saying that it's not their fault and thus shifting the blame onto someone else. This is a sign of insecurity and low self-esteem: if your partner can't take responsibility for themselves, they may try to control other people to feel better about themselves.

Another reason why your partner might constantly blame others is that they want power over you—and one way of gaining power over someone is by manipulating them into feeling like there's something wrong with them or that they're not good enough.

Your partner threatens to hurt you or someone you love.

One of the most important signs that your partner is abusive is if they threaten to hurt you or someone else. They may threaten to kill themselves, which can be an extreme form of psychological abuse. Their behaviour could also include threats to hurt others and make credible plans for doing so. If your partner has ever threatened to hurt or kill you or somebody else, this could be a sign that they are abusive—even if they didn't follow through on the threat.

Your partner doesn't want you to work or, if you do, doesn't want you to make more than they do.

If your partner doesn't want you to work or, if you do, doesn't want you to make more than they do, this is a huge red flag. Many abusers will forbid their partners from working to maintain complete control over them. This can be particularly harmful if the victim was planning on working outside the home as a way of gaining independence and self-confidence. After all, it's hard to feel confident when someone is telling you that what is best for their relationship isn't what is best for yours!

They try to control how you spend money or what kinds of clothes you wear.

No matter how much money you have, if your partner is controlling how you spend it or what kinds of clothes you wear, that's a sign of abuse. This can happen in small ways like taking control over who pays for lunch on the weekends and big ways like keeping track of your bank account online without telling you.

Seek help from a safe place such as a supportive friend or relative, a counsellor or a therapist.

If you are experiencing the signs of an abusive relationship, it is important to seek help from a safe place. This could be any number of people: a supportive friend or relative, a counsellor or therapist who can provide support.

It may seem scary but seeking assistance from an objective third party will help you to determine whether or not the relationship is worth saving and how best to go about doing so. From there, you can decide what you need to do for yourself and your well-being and what steps you need to take to get out of the relationship if that is what is best for you.

If you're not sure, talk to someone you trust who can listen without judgment and help guide you toward a safe place. Remember, the sooner you get out of an abusive relationship the better!

How to deal with jealousy in your relationship

If you've ever been in a relationship, you've probably experienced jealousy at some point. Jealousy is natural, but when it's taken too far it can result in distrust, insecurity, and even the end of a relationship. So what can you do? We're going to show you how to deal with jealousy in your relationship by looking at situations where your partner might be acting strangely.

Is your partner flirting?

Are your partner’s actions innocent, or are they flirting?

If you suspect that your partner is being unfaithful, there are certain signs to look out for. Try to pay attention to their body language and what they say to determine if they are being flirtatious with someone else. Remember that flirting usually involves communicating through non-verbal cues like eye contact and body language, so keep this in mind as you try to determine if your partner is cheating on you. If they are displaying any of the following, perhaps it is a good opportunity to address the situation with your partner:

• They seem distracted during conversations with you

• They spend more time than usual on their phone or computer

• Their moods fluctuate frequently (e.g., from happy one minute to angry/sad moments later)

Spot the lie

It's important to spot the lie. In this case, you don't have to worry about your partner lying. It might be that you're just not ready for them to spend time with another person. If there is more than one person involved in a relationship that you're jealous of, it could stem from something deeper than jealousy—such as trust issues or inadequacy issues—and this should be addressed before trying any other form of communication.

If there's no evidence of lying at all, make sure not to accuse them without proof. It could cause harm if they feel like everything they say and do is under scrutiny by their partner (or vice versa). If there is some kind of proof that would back up your claim about their dishonesty (such as text messages) then share those with them so they know you aren't just making things up.

Do you trust your partner?

Trust is a two-way street: you want to trust your partner, but they also have to earn it by showing that they can be trusted. Trust takes time and effort to build—in fact, some people never fully regain trust in their partner after a betrayal.

As you build trust with each other, it will become easier for both of you to open up about what's going on in your lives. This includes sharing things that might be embarrassing or uncomfortable for either of you (like when one of you has been offered a job out of town), or just sharing positive things about yourselves (like telling each other how much fun it was watching last night’s TV show together).

When there's no trust between partners who haven't been completely honest with each other, then there won't be any way for these two people who love each other deeply to move past this hurtful experience together.

Are you jealous of everything?

A lot of people are jealous of pretty much everything. They’re jealous of the amount of time their partner spends with family and friends, or how many hours they spend talking to someone else on social media.

But there’s a difference between being upset about something and being jealous. Jealousy is more than just being upset about something; it can have a very negative impact on your relationship if you let it get out of control. It can also cause problems in other areas of your life too: feeling jealous may lead you to break your trust in your partner, which might make them feel unsafe around you.

Your jealousy will pass if you learn how to manage it instead of letting it control what happens in your relationship.

Stop comparing yourself to others.

When you compare yourself to other people, it’s easy to feel like you fall short. You might look at a friend and think, “I wish I could be as successful as they are,” or notice that your partner is more attractive than you are. But don't get caught up comparing yourself to others and losing sight of who you are!

You have different skills, experiences and ambitions than the people around you—and that's okay! You may not be able to do everything someone else can in a certain area of life (or any area at all), but that doesn’t mean there isn't an important role for you in those areas.

When we become jealous of others' strengths, weaknesses or accomplishments—or when we feel inferior about ourselves because we don't measure up—we can take steps toward overcoming jealousy by focusing on our strengths instead of what others seem to have over us.

Take a step back before accusing your partner of something they haven't done

Are you feeling jealous about your partner’s relationship with someone else, or maybe even just the idea of someone else? Take a step back before accusing them of something they haven’t done. It is important to keep in mind that they may be keeping secrets out of guilt, and if you overreact or accuse them of things they haven't done, it could make things worse. It's better to think through what you're feeling and figure out how best to handle it without causing harm or starting an argument.

If you find yourself feeling jealous, it’s important to take a step back and examine the situation. You don't want to accuse your partner of something they haven't done, or worse—make them feel like they have to prove their innocence. If you find that you're always feeling jealous and have trouble healthily dealing with your feelings, it might be time to seek professional help.

Being a step-parent: What you need to know to make things work

Being a step-parent is a unique role that requires you to balance your own needs and desires with those of the kids, their biological parents, and even your partner’s ex. It’s not always easy, but it can be incredibly rewarding if you stick with it.

When to be involved, and when not to get involved

As a step-parent, it is your responsibility to set boundaries on what is appropriate for you to be involved in. If your partner asks you to help them with their children and they have an issue with something that happened during that time period, do not take it personally and do not get into the middle of things. You are there as a friend first and foremost, not a parent or authority figure.

How to set boundaries with your step-kids

It's important to set boundaries with your step-children early on, so you can foster mutual respect and trust between the whole family. These boundaries shouldn't be so restrictive that they'll feel suffocated by them, but they should still encourage positive behaviour and help keep everyone on the same page. If you're having trouble setting these boundaries yourself, here are some tips:

• Talk to the other parents about what kind of rules and expectations they have for their children's behaviour. Listen carefully so that you don't contradict anything that has already been agreed upon by all parties involved - but also make sure not to overlook any potential areas of conflict between all parties involved as well!

• Consider writing down some guidelines together as a stepfamily unit; this will allow everyone involved an opportunity for input into how things should shape up over time (as well as give them something tangible to refer back to).

Getting help from the birth parents

As an adoptive/stepparent, it’s important to remember that your relationship with the birth parents is different than your stepchild’s. You may be able to get support from them in a way that helps you better understand what you need as a parent and how best to meet those needs. If there are specific things that are confusing or difficult for you, ask for help from the birth parents.

For example, if discipline is something that has been challenging for you, ask how they handle punishment with their child. Or if there’s a particular activity or skill your stepchild seems interested in learning at school but doesn't know how (like playing an instrument), see if they can provide guidance on how they learned it themselves when they were younger.

Your relationship with the birth parents will likely change over time as new challenges arise and older ones become resolved, so don't worry about having all of your questions ready right away! Just start talking about whatever comes up naturally and revisit topics later when there's more time available for sharing information between everyone involved in raising children together.

Finding time for each other

If you want to build a relationship with your stepchildren, you must find ways for you to spend time together. You can do this by planning activities for the family or just having special times when it's just you and your stepchild(ren).

You might also try scheduling regular meetups with each other. You could try once a month or every other week and make sure they're not always scheduled around your work schedule. If possible, try being flexible so that if something comes up in their lives that require attention (i.e., an illness), there will be enough room in your schedule to accommodate them.

Keeping the peace with the exes

"Keeping the peace with the exes" is a common challenge for step-parents, but it doesn't have to be. When you're married or partnered with a single parent and there are children in your life, having a good relationship with the other parent can make all the difference in how things go. You may not be able to change your spouse's feelings toward his or her exes overnight, but taking steps toward establishing an open line of communication will help ensure that everyone has an understanding of where everyone else stands.

In addition to talking about keeping things civil with former spouses and partners, it's important for couples entering into step-parenting relationships to discuss their expectations for each other as parents; and not just because they are now raising someone else's child together! In order to establish boundaries about how much time needs to be spent on schoolwork versus extracurricular activities versus family time, both parents need input from each other; otherwise, one parent could inadvertently take over as "the boss" while failing at giving equal attention (or worse yet: being too permissive).

Where to go for help

Take time to evaluate the situation and seek help. Talk to the child’s therapist or doctor, if they have one. If not, talk to your own therapist. If you're feeling overwhelmed or like this isn't going well, it's okay to ask for help, for yourself as much as your stepchild!

If you don't want to see a therapist, there are other ways of getting support. One option is joining a support group for step-parents in your area or online if that's easier for you. You might also consider reaching out to people who understand what it's like being a step-parent: these could be friends whose kids live elsewhere, partners of the nonbiological parent, adoptive parents or even grandparents who have been through similar experiences themselves.

Being a step-parent is a lot of work. But the good news is that there are people and organisations who can help you if things get tough. Whether it’s talking with your partner about strategies for managing inter-family dynamics, or finding a therapist who specialises in step-parenting issues, there are many resources available to help make your journey as easy as possible. And remember: No matter how much support you have from friends or family members (or even therapists), it’s important that you take care of yourself too! Take time each day for yourself; the best way to be an effective step-parent is to keep your own needs at the forefront of everything else in life so that no one gets left behind - including yourself!