Support for people who want to change their behaviour
You may be worried that you are hurting your partner, ex-partner or a family member. You might be worried about your jealously or that you try to control a loved one. This page gives you more information about healthy and unhealthy relationships and how to reflect on your relationships. There is also support for you if you want to change your behaviour.
Am I causing harm?
You may be worried that you are causing harm towards your partner, ex-partner or a family member but you don’t know how to address your behaviour.
Have you been accused of being controlling or abusive, and you don't understand what s/he is talking about? Are your children frightened of you?
This checklist below will help you to identify your behaviour and how you can deal with them.
A healthy relationship is based on mutual respect - there doesn't have to be someone in charge.
If you are a parent, you want to set a good example to your children and protect them from being scared. But what if they’re scared of you? If you’re abusing or frightening their Mum or Dad, it will be affecting them.
Check the signs
- Do you demand that your partner or family member behaves acts, speaks, thinks in a certain way otherwise you get angry?
- Do you think a family member or partner is scared to tell you what s/he thinks, or disagree with you?
- Do you put them down, call them names, insult and criticise them unfairly?
- Do you play mind-games by lying and manipulating, making false accusations?
- Do you expect your partner to look after you, e.g. meals, clothes, money, housework, and refuse to do anything yourself?
- Have you ever stopped them from seeing friends or family?
- Do you control when and where they can go out socially - or have you given them such a hard time previously that they don't bother any more.
- Have you ever sulked, got angry, insisted, pressurised or forced your partner to do something sexual?
- Are you unable discuss a disagreement calmly, and agree what to do? Do you simply not consider another point of view?
- Do you lose your temper over trivial matters with your partner, but have no problem dealing with difficult situations with other people or at work?
- Are you jealous and possessive? Do you make unfounded accusations? Jump to conclusions?
- Do you scream and shout, use foul and abusive language, physically dominate or restrain them, smash windows, furniture or destroy objects, throw things?
- Have you ever assaulted them, e.g. pushing, shoving, slapping, kicking, pinching, pulling hair?
- Have you ever hurt them so much that they had to go to hospital or someone called the police?
- Have you ever threatened to hurt them, yourself or someone else if they leave you?
- If you have hurt your partner, do you think that it was their fault, if only they hadn't pushed your buttons, wound you up, or they only have to do as you say?
- Or used excuses - such as it was because of alcohol or drugs, or that you were "just joking"?
- If your partner has left you, have you really let go? Are you still trying to control them, wanting to know everything they are doing, getting the children to tell you, communicating with them when they have asked you not to?
What happens if I answered yes to any of these questions?
Even if you have done only one of these things, you may be causing harm or in an unhealthy relationship . Research shows that unhealthy behaviour gets worse the longer it goes on. It can start with arguments, jealously, making fun of someone, making demands, trying to control what they wear, who they see, what money they have. It can then escalate and to more coercive and controlling behaviour and also involve physical and sexual abuse. Children are hurt, both physically and emotionally by living in a household where there is an unhealthy relationship and abuse.
If you recognise your own behaviour in several of the above points it is likely that your partner, children or other family members, are frightened of you on a regular basis. They are probably trying their hardest to do just what you want, to avoid the consequences. Victims often say this is like "walking on eggshells". Can you sense this fear?
Where can I get help?
Inspire to Change has been designed to help participants learn new skills and find better ways to manage and control their abusive behaviour. It encourages participants to think and behave more positively to prevent harm to their partner, children and family in the future.
Find out more by visiting the Cranstoun Inspire to Change website: Cranstoun Inspire to Change - Cranstoun
- Inspire to change leaflet oct 22
- Download (1.08MB - PDF)
The Safer Living Foundation is a joint venture between HMPWhatton and senior academics from Nottingham Trent University. The SLF deliver The Aurora Project which provides free group and 1:1 support, therapy & signposting service for individuals who want to understand and manage the sexual thoughts they are having. For some people, their sexual behaviours may be causing them distress and they may be concerned they will act upon them, some may be currently under investigation with the Police. They aim to provide therapy which will allow individuals the opportunity to understand their sexual thoughts and behaviours in a non-judgemental and supportive environment. The Aurora Project | Safer Living Foundation
You can also contact the National Respect phone line on 0808 8024040 or visit https://respectphoneline.org.uk/
Return to the Domestic Abuse homepage
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