I have a friend at work who is having relationship problmes. She has been living with a man for about a year, and he is very controlling and manipulative. He loses his temper over the slightest thing and shouts and rants and raves at her.
He mooches through her phone, her email, and her facebook accounts. She is not allowed privacy, and he does not like her having contact with other men.
He isn't violent...yet. At least I don't think he is. I see her every day (she is a work colleague) so I THINK I'd spot signs of physical abuse.
She is a strong, confident, professional woman who wouldn't otherwise be pushed around by anyone.
I've been in an emotionally abusive relationship, and I can see why she doesn't leave. She admitted today that if he punched her, she'd be relieved, because she'd have a concrete reason to walk out. I'm concerned that by the time it gets to that point, he'll have broken her spirit.
My main problem is this: she's more of a colleague than a friend. We've spent a little more time chatting lately, and she's started to move into the 'friend' category for me, but we're not close. If she was one of my close girl friends that I know inside out, I'd be ranting about him and wanting to shake her and make her listen. However, I don't feel I can really interfere...I try to just listen and share my experiences, in the hope that she'll take some hints.
But it's upsetting to stand by and watch while she is being treated like this.
Has anyone got any advice on what I can do for her?