I believe Chloe Dykstra. I’ve been there.
Not with her ex, but with another ambitious, “nerdy” industry guy.
Some warning signs: getting really romantic, really quickly. Telling you what you should and should not eat. Making decisions about your contraceptive use that you do not agree with. Never wanting to hang out with your friends. Nitpicking you for very small things.
And above all, a victim complex.
This can happen across genders, of course. There are many emotionally abusive same-sex relationships. But it was a cis straight guy in my case.
For those of you saying that you have friends or family members who seem to be in similar situations, if you are in a place where you are in contact and you think they might listen to you, please talk to them.
It was my friends and family telling me that they didn’t like the way he treated me that helped me to break up with him.
Some people in abusive relationships are unable to be reached, they need professional intervention. But sometimes, especially if it’s early on, and you can give some outside perspective and remind your friend that they are a person who should be treated well, you can help.
