Teen Dating Abuse
As many as 10% of U.S. high school students reported having been hit, slapped or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year.
Dating violence isn't an argument every once in a while, or a bad mood after a bad day. Dating violence (or relationship abuse) is a pattern of violent behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend. Abuse can cause injury and even death, but it doesn't have to be physical. It can include verbal and emotional abuse, constant insults, isolation from friends and family, name calling, controlling what someone wears, and it also includes sexual abuse. It can happen to anyone, at any age, no matter what race or religion, no matter what education level or income level. Dating violence also occurs in same sex relationships.
10 Warning Signs
1. When your friend and her boyfriend are together, he calls her names or puts her down in front of other people.
2. He acts extrememly jealous when she talks to other boys, even when its completely innocent.
3. She apologizes for his behavior and makes excuses for him.
4. She frequently cancels plans at the last minute for reasons that sound untrue.
5. He's always checking up on her, calling or paging her, and demanding to know where she has been and who she has been with.
6. You've seen him lose his temper, maybe even break or hit things when he's mad.
7. She seems worried about upsetting him or making him angry.
8. She is giving up things that used to be important to her, such as spending time with friends or other activities, and is becoming more and more isolated.
9. Her weight, appearance or grades have changed dramatically. These could be signs of depression, which could indicate abuse.
10. She has injuries she can't explain, or the explanations she gives don't make sense.
What if it's you who's in danger?
No one deserves to be abused. If you're being hurt in your relationship or are afraid you might be at risk, talk to someone, anyone! Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE for confidential advice and referrals. Talk to a school counselor, your parents, or a family member. Sometimes we think that we can handle all of our problems on our own. But sometimes these things are too big to handle by ourselves, and it can be a huge relief to get someone else involved. Whether it's for yourself or a friend, getting a trusted adult involved is always a smart decision.
Still not sure if you or a friend is in an abusive relationship? Take the quiz!
There are many resources available about dating violence, get informed! Here are just a few:
Adapted from loveisnotabuse.com
