Apparition in the Woods
Make the core emotional conflict in the character receiving the abuse clear. Let it be understood that even when the character makes excuses for the partner, the denial is clear, whether because they can recognise that their own words are hollow but are afraid to lose what good is there (or afraid of worse repercussions), or because the layers of justification and contorted logic are clear as day to those who hear what this person has to say on the matter and see what this situation is doing to them.
I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
Who Am I?
Yeah, you do it by sharing with the readers what emotions the two characters are going through. Make them a mixture of positive (there must be some reason they are in this relationship) and negative (the unhealthy part) with the emphasis on the negative. Done well, that should be enough.
"We learn from history that we do not learn from history."
...can still bite
What it boils down to is to use Show, Don't Tell. Unless you are just a bad writer, if your intention is for the story to consider the relationship a bad thing, it is likely going to show through your writing. The previous comments are ways to show it through your writing. If the abused is single, happier than they were during the relationship, and the breakup is treated as a good thing at the end of the story (or dead, if you are going for a Downer Ending), that should also make things clear. Just do your part; if Misaimed Fandom happens, it happens.
edited 11th Dec '16 12:22:24 PM by shiro_okami
So I'm writing a relationship that's meant to be unhealthy (A character is extremely jealous and possessive of their partner). I want my readers to understand that this relationship is unhealthy and am worried that there might be something of a Misaimed Fandom. I understand this is a bit presumptuous, as I'm assuming I'm going to get a fanbase, but I don't want to accidentally glorify a relationship like that. I know that sometimes writers in this situation would introduce another love interest for the abused partner, that they typically will hook up after leaving the bad relationship. However, I feel this carries some Unfortunate Implications (You can only escape an abusive relationship if you find the right person). Any ideas what I could do?