Warning Signs of Domestic Abuse at the early stages of a relationship
It’s not always easy to tell at the beginning of a relationship if the person you have met is an abuser. Most abusers seem absolutely perfect in the early stages of a relationship. Possessive and controlling behaviours don’t always appear overnight, but rather emerge and intensify as the relationship grows.
Love bombing can be part of early signs of abuse in a relationship, what we often call ‘red flags. It can also be used in the ‘reconciliation’ phase of the abuse cycle, especially after an incident of abuse.
Love bombing is often used to gain control over someone else, and the end result can be unhealthy.
These are some behaviours that could be indicators that the person you are with is an abuser
- They want to know everything about you at a very early stage of meeting you.
- They ask lots of questions about your family and previous relationships.
- They may mirror your experiences by telling you similar things happened to them.
- They tell you that you have so much in common.
- They tell you that you are meant to be together and use the terms soulmates and perfect couple in the first few meetings.
- They may talk badly about previous partners they have had and blame them for not seeing any children they may have together.
- They tell you that they love you very early on in the relationship.
- They move in with you early on in the relationship.
- They tell you that they want to be with you forever.
- They shower you with gifts.
- They want to spend all of their time with you.
- They want to move the relationship quicker than you do.
All of these may seem innocent however sometimes these behaviours are indicators of abuse.
Affection today can mean abuse tomorrow.
