Dear Abby: Red flags are flying in daughter’s marriage

DEAR ABBY: My daughter has been married less than a year to a very controlling man. Don’t you have a list of things to look for to tell someone when it is time to get out? – VERY WORRIED MOTHER

DEAR MOTHER: Here are some abusive behaviors to watch for:

* Pressure for quick commitment

* Jealousy

* Controlling behavior

* Unrealistic expectations

* Forced Isolation

* Blaming others for problems

* Making others responsible for his or her feelings

* Hypersensitivity

* Cruelty to animals or children

* “Playful” use of force during sex

* Verbal abuse

* Rigid expectations

* Sudden mood swings

* Past battering

* Threats of violence

Readers, anyone at risk of spousal or partner abuse should contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or thehotline.org.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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