Warning signs of domestic violence everyone should know

Anitra Edwards is among the one-third of women in relationships who has experienced violence from a partner. But like many others, she said the warning signs are not as easy to spot as some might think.

"It's easier to point out the signs and recognize what I missed now that I'm looking back at the relationship," she told ABC. "When you're in the moment, these behaviors don't seem abusive."

October is Domestic Violence Awarness Month and Edwards, a domestic violence awarness advocate, says it's important to educate yourself whether or not you are in an abusive relationship -- because you never know when you or a loved one may need to know the signs.

Edwards dated her ex-boyfriend for almost two years, and they lived together for a time when she was in college. The warning signs don't necessarily come in the early stages of a relationship, she learned.

"It started out as a good relationship -- as they usually do -- and slowly became unhealthy," she said.

Edwards said the first signs were controlling behavoirs and jealousy, and it escalated from there. She didn't think of it as abuse at the time.

"He had a very explosive temper and would punch walls when he was angry or threaten to hit me 'if I were a man.' These were signs that I did not recognize," she said. "There was an instance where he physically grabbed my arm, but at the time, I didn't see that as 'physical abuse' since he didn't hit me."

Eventually he became violent. Edwards called the police and got out of the relationship.

Edwards said that her work advocating for the National Domestic Violence Hotline has taught her that domestic violence is more common than she thought.

"That is a very big concept to grasp because there is a lot of victim-blaming in dating violence," she said. "I wasn't crazy. It wasn't my fault, and it wasn't just me."

Here are some possible warning signs that a partner is abusive or could become abusive from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Edwards:

• Monitors what you're doing all the time, checks your phone, texts, calls or email
• Decides things for you that you should be allowed to decide (like what to wear or eat)
• Isolates you from friends and family
• Humiliates you in front of others
• Controls how you spend your money
• Downplays your feelings or your fears, calls you "crazy" or "overly-dramatic"
• Forces you to have sex against your will
• Threatens to harm himself or herself when upset with you
• Threatens to hurt you, your children, or pets
• Hurts you (by hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, punching, slapping, kicking, or biting)

More than anything, Edwards said, victims should know how important it is to ask for help.

"If you are in an abusive relationship, you are important and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," she said. "So, please, try not to be afraid to reach out for help."

Here are resources about how to get help if you or someone you love is experiecing domestic violence:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: A confidential, free, 24-hour hotline for victims

LoveIsRespect: A confidential, free, 24-hour hotline to help teens

The U.S. Office for Victims of Crime: Offers a state-by-state breakdown of available legal and financial assitance for victims of crimes

WomensLaw.org: Offers a tool to find shelters and/or legal help in your area