Domestic violence, including emotional and verbal abuse, is a topic that is often misunderstood and ignored. Surprisingly, the warning signs of abuse can be subtle and difficult to recognize.

Dr. Stephanie Lang has made it her life’s work to research the earliest warning signs (“Pink Flags”) of domestic abuse with the purpose of helping people prevent or avoid abuse before it happens.

First, it is important to know that each and every relationship is different, with unique dynamics, circumstances, and personal interactions. And abuse can take many different forms. So the ways in which early warning signs of violence show up can look very different in different relationships. Still, there are:

Three Overriding Early Warning Signs of Abuse

Our research has shown that relationships having a combination of these three identifiers have the potential to turn violent or abusive in the future:

• Disrespectful Behavior. Those who have experienced abuse often think they know what “disrespect” means, but they really do not.

• Intensely “Positive” Behavior. The earliest warning signs of violence are not the stereotypical warning signs. Read this to gain a better understanding of how a behavior that seems positive can actually be an early warning sign.

• Enmeshing Behavior. What is called “Quality-Time Enmeshing” occurs in nearly every relationship heading for violence, and it has three defining characteristics.
  

Dr. Stephanie is passionate about helping people avoid and prevent domestic violence. If you recognize any of these behaviors in your relationships, it is extremely important that you seek professional help. Feel free to contact Dr. Stephanie to discuss your specific situation or to simply learn more about healthy relationships.