A teenage boy has opened up about abusing his own mother, thinking it was "normal".

An Australian mother and son have shared the heartbreaking impact growing up in an abusive household can have on a young boy.

Up until six months ago, 16-year-old Jack was emotionally and physically abusing his mother Stacey Dvorak, pushing and threatening her and destroying her possessions.

Jack’s destructive behaviour began when he was just 11 years old. Shockingly, he considered it “normal” having witnessed his father’s abuse of his mother.

“I could hear mum yell every day, my dad yell, just always fighting, punching even sometimes- that’s what I thought everyone acted. That’s what I thought normal relationships were,” Jack told 60 Minutes.

Jack and Stacey Dvorak appeared on the Channel 9 program to share their story in an effort to shed light on the cycle of violence that continued in children of abusive parents.

Stacey explained that she had taken her three children away from her Jack’s father when the boy started primary school, but soon discovered that the damage had already been done to Jack.

Jack said he didn't know that by the time he was 15 his mum and younger siblings lived in terror of him, but was open with reporter Allison Langdon, discussing the ways he tormented them.

"(I'd) just go crazy and just yell my head off," Jack said, adding threatening his mother with knives was one of the worst things he had done.

"I used to just used to release my anger out on her 'cause, I dunno, it's just what I did.

"I used to think that was normal, but that's not how you treat your mum."

Stacey said she could see the same traits in her son as her ex-partner had displayed, including the rapid mood-swings.

"I was in a cycle of domestic violence," Stacey told 60 Minutes.

"He'd be amazing. Then one second out of nowhere and I would be abused, the walls would be belted, my car was smashed, he'd hurt the little kids. I was reliving my violent relationship, but with my son."

Stacey got help in May 2016, calling the police when Jack flew into a rage and threatened to kill "slit her throat" and shoot her.

"I honestly thought, he's going to do this to me," Stacey said.

Jack was arrested and not allowed back inside his family home - the wake-up call he needed to get help.

The 16-year-old began seeing a counsellor, wanting to change his behaviour for his mum, but also for himself.

Stacey said she was not "naive" enough to think the family would live without incident from now on, but remarked that his behaviour had improved dramatically.

"I take every day one day at a time," Stacey said.

"At the moment he's the best I've ever seen him. I feel like I've got a different son."

Jack agreed he was a better person since getting help.

"I've got no anger, I've got no anxiety."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, Mamamia urges you to contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.