Healthy Relationships V Abusive Relationships

Characteristics of Safe and Healthy Relationships

• Real friendship
• Partnerships.
• Joint decision-making
• Shared responsibilities
• Financial equality
• Freedom to decide issues about work, school and money
• Physical Safety
• Respect partners physical space
• Express self non violently
• Emotional Honesty
• Feel safe to admit and share fears and insecurities

Sexual Respect

• Accept that 'no' means 'no'
• Supportive, Trusting
• Listen and understand
• Value partner's opinion
• Respectful
• Respect the right to different feelings, friends and activities
• Support partner's goals

Characteristic of Abusive Relationships

• Domination/Control
• Abuser decides
• One person in charge
• Economic Control
• Deny job freedom
• Withhold money
• Physical Abuse
• Hit, choke, kick, punch, pull hair, bite, restrain, use weapons
• Emotional Manipulation
• Use jealousy, passion, stress and frustration's to justify actions

Sexual Abuse

• Force partner to do things against their will
• Controlling
• Name calling, mind games
• Isolate partner from friends, loved ones
• Intimidating
• Charming in public, Menacing in private
• Destroying property or pets
• Making light of abuse "You're too sensitive".

Abusers don't abuse everyday, but its always coming!