Signs your child is trapped in an abusive relationship; how you can help

It would be terrifying for any parent to find out that their child, whom they raised with utmost love and care, is being mistreated by their partner in a relationship. You may feel powerless, helpless and may not feel like you have say in the matter, but it is not true. You have all the right to provide support, to help your child and to let them know how it's alright to get out of an abusive relationship.

Having said that, you must understand all forms of abuse. Most people accept abuse only in its physical form. However, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse are also other types of abuse you must be aware of.

Also read: Is it OK to yell at your kids?

Abuse is when one person treats another person cruelly and violently. It can be in the form of physical violence or verbal aggression which can harm and cause emotional stress to someone.

On several occasions, we fail to recognize abuse, especially if it is not physical. We neglect the fact that a person may be hurting from the inside due to a stressful relationship.

That said, there are different types of abuse including physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, financial, etc.

Emotional abuse is very common in romantic relationships and may get overlooked since the signs can be hidden under pretentious guise. However, it can be as traumatic and difficult to overcome as physical abuse.

Until and unless, there are obvious signs of physical harm, one may find it difficult to identify abuse, especially in a relationship.

If you're a parent and are concerned about your child's safety and mental health, look for these tell-tale red flags of abuse.

- Stress, anxiety and extreme nervousness

- Loss of interest in their favourite activities

- Extremely agitated

- Withdrawl from family and loved ones

- Fear at the mention of one's partner

Watch out for these signs in your child's partner:

- Display of a controlling behaviour, extreme possessiveness and jealousy

- Always efficient at blaming others

- Hypersensitivity - offended easily

- Heightened temper

In case you notice these signs of abuse, make sure to communicate with your child. Do not hold yourself back or hesitate to meddle into their lives. Abuse can be traumatic and just by lending a helping hand or letting them know that you care and are there for them, can make a huge difference.

There's no way you can force or compel your child to leave an abusive relationship. That's their decision to make. No amount of persuasion can make them change their mind. However, by supporting them and providing them with resources, you're not only boosting their confidence and self-esteem, you're letting them know that no matter what happens, they can lean on someone. Slowly and steadily, once they learn to love themselves, be independent and understand their worth, they'll heal.

Irrespective of what your child decides - to be or not to be in the relationship - always keep in touch, know where they are, what they're doing and how they're progressing. Doing so will help you understand the situation better.

In case of dangerous situations, where you feel your child is extremely threatened, you must contact for help. These are times you should intervene immediately.