Repeatedly crossing others’ boundaries, throwing things and physical intimidation, such as holding a person stuck, is abuse. The abuse in a relationship often begins or becomes worse when the woman becomes pregnant.

A relationship that is “stormy” could possibly be an abusive relationship. Victims often feel that they are abusive as well when they answer back but with a closer look it is often easy to discern who has the upper hand and is therefore more likely to be the controller in the situation.

There were a few red flags during the first year in Sara’s relationship. Then things got increasingly worse when her boyfriend lost his job and became depressed. He threatened to commit suicide if she didn’t do what he wanted and isolated her from her friends. The abuse got more serious when she got pregnant.

Þekktu Rauðu Ljósin - Sara segir sína sögu #rauduljosin

There is generally a pattern present in violent relationships called the Cycle of Violence and appears in three phases. First is the Tension Building Phase, then the Violent Episode Phase and lastly, the Honeymoon Phase.

Bjarkarhlíð is a center for people who have experienced abuse. There you get all the support and counseling you need in one place. All assistance is on your terms.

Áslaug is in a stormy relationship and is constantly setting new boundaries for her spouse’s preferable behavior but senses...

Áslaug is in a stormy relationship and is constantly telling her spouse what she does not like in their communications but he keeps crossing her boundaries. After she became pregnant the situation has only become worse. She has started to avoid certain topics, like politics and parenting, because he always gets mad when she does.

Áslaug knows that she is no angel herself and often does something that she knows will make him angry. Áslaug has also yelled herself back at him and pushed him to get out of violent situations. He has never hit her but sometimes he holds her so she can't move and throws things.

Áslaug

Is this abuse?