Are You In An Abusive Relationship?
1 in 3 teens experience some form of violence in their romantic relationships. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
If you’re in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, figuring out the next step can be very difficult. You have feelings for this person and have developed a history with them. However, it’s the future you should consider, not the past.. Will you be happy with them? Will you be able to achieve your goals? Will you feel safe? Help is Only a Phone Call Away
If you or a loved one is in a violent relationship, please get help. Call our hotline at 814-944-3585 or 1-800-500-2849. For additional information and resources, visit http://www.loveisrespect.org/
Dating Violence
Dating violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control over a dating partner. Any teen or young adult can experience violence, abuse or unhealthy behaviors in their dating relationships. Most often, the abuse and violence escalate over time and becomes more dangerous.
What Does Dating Violence Look Like?
Teens and young adults experience the same types of abuse in relationships as adults.
- Physical Abuse: intentional use of physical force with the intent to cause fear or injury, like hitting, shoving, biting, strangling, kicking or using a weapon.
- Verbal or Emotional Abuse: Non-physical behaviors such as threats, insults, constant monitoring, humiliation, intimidation, isolation or stalking.
- Sexual Abuse: Any action that impacts a person’s ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs, including rape, coercion or restricting access to birth control.
Ten Warning Signs of Abuse
While there are many warning signs of abuse, here are ten common abusive behaviors:
- Checking your cell phone or email without permission
- Constantly putting you down
- Extreme jealousy or insecurity
- Explosive temper
- Isolating you from family or friends
- Making false accusations
- Mood swings
- Physically hurting you in any way
- Possessiveness
- Telling you what to do
Bullying
Bullying involves an individual or a group repeatedly harming another person—physically (e.g. punching or pushing), verbally (e.g. teasing or name-calling), or socially (e.g. ostracizing or spreading hurtful rumors). Bullying can also take place using technology. Cyberbullying, is used to threaten, embarras, or target another person. Bullycide is a new term used to identify victims of bullying who became so emotionally distressed that they committed suicide. Instances of Cyberbullying and Bullycide are both on the rise.
The Safe School Helpline is available for students, families, and community members of AASD. This helpline is a confidential way for anyone to report concerns about the health, welfare, or safety of students and schools. Please call 1-800-4-1-Voice ext 359 or 1-800-418-6423 ext. 359 or Text: 66746 then type tips. For additional information visit www.safeschoolhelpline.com
Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is physical or non-physical contact between an adult or minor and a child which results in sexual stimulation and gratification for the adult or minor.
Indicators of sexual abuse or exploitation include physical injury to genitals, sexually transmitted infections, bladder or urinary infection, difficulty swallowing, pain going to the bathroom, nightmares, resistance to removing clothing at appropriate times, sexually acting out, initiating sophisticated sexual behaviors, engaging other children into inappropriate sexualized play, playing out sexual scenarios with toys or dolls, excessive masturbation, or regression in young children.
