One of the reasons our assessment tool was developed is because people kept asking me how do you know partner emotional abuse and intimate partner violence from other relationship issues.

My answer: You know it from the inside out! ...Not the outside in. (That’s my clinical answer; not the “legal” criteria.)

Its "felt sense" (that is, how it is felt in the body) is most telling. Many people describe it as a “boa constrictor” wrapping around the core of your being, preventing you from knowing and being what and who you are.

Now sometimes the feeling is subtle and sometimes significant. Regardless of the degree, its characteristics are clear and distinct.

If you have ever been in relationship with someone in which you feel that, I urge you to take a hard and honest look at the dynamics of your relationship. You may be struggling with the emotional distress of an abusive relationship.

To know whether or not this is the case, take the Intimate Partner Abuse Screen and also learn what maintains and what ends domestic abuse. Dr. Jeanne King helps individuals recognize and end domestic abuse, and heal from abusive relationships.

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©Copyright 2008 Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. www.PreventAbusiveRelationships.com