Spot the Danger Signs

Have you clicked on this page because you feel anxious or worried about your relationship with your boyfriend or ex-boyfriend? If so, you have taken an important and positive step and we hope we can support you.

If you feel you are in immediate danger, click here.

The 10

signs of

Dating Abuse

He says he hates your friends and complains you spend too much time with them. He sends you constant texts and gets mad when you ignore him. He tells you how to dress and criticises your clothes. He makes you feel guilty if you don’t spend all your free time with him. He has a bad temper and you feel afraid to disagree with him. He accuses you of cheating on him all the time. He demands all your passwords so he can check your messages. You feel afraid to break up with him because he says he’ll hurt himself. He forces you to do things sexually that you don’t want to do. He is physically violent or threatens to hurt you or someone else.

You are not alone in feeling something isn't right with your relationship. Women in dating relationships contact Women's Aid every day because they are afraid of their boyfriends.

Your boyfriend does not have the right to control and abuse you. You should not have to worry about how he will react to what you do. Maybe you feel that you are somehow to blame for the abuse. Your boyfriend, and other people, may have told you that it is your fault. But that is not true. Your boyfriend is responsible for the abuse. And he alone can stop it. It is important to focus on keeping yourself safe. You may find that talking to someone about your situation will help you to sort out what is happening in your relationship and help figure out what next steps you feel comfortable and safe with. You may feel like you are 'walking on eggshells' and living in fear of his moods and temper. Dating abuse is wrong and no one deserves to be threatened, beaten or be in fear for their lives. Women's Aid understands how hard it is to make sense of what is happening to you. It can be difficult to talk about your situation, even to your closest family and friends. You may feel lonely and isolated. Maybe you have been told by your boyfriend that he will hurt you or himself if you tell someone. Perhaps you have told someone and they have told you just to break up, run, to walk away. But we know it is not that easy.