| Violent and abusive relationships can happen | | | | hiding your car keys so you cannot leave, |
| in any age group; however, teens face a | | | | stop accepting the flowers and the notes, the |
| unique set of challenges. Young teens may not | | | | relationship is not worth continuing on with. |
| know who to turn to get help or may think | | | | |
| their mate's jealousy and possessiveness are | | | | It is common for teenage victims of dating |
| just more signs of "true love." Teenage | | | | violence and abuse to keep the problem from |
| dating is not always an innocent phase of | | | | their parents. They fear if they tell the |
| life just before adulthood. It can even turn | | | | parents, the parents will demand a |
| deadly. Many times violence is after a break | | | | separation. Most teenage victims of dating |
| up in a relationship that was not previously | | | | abuse do not want this to happen. They keep |
| violent. It is estimated that more 10 | | | | hoping for the magical "something" to get |
| percent of teens nationwide are in a dating | | | | back to when the relationship was good and |
| violence situation. | | | | continue to endure the abuse, sometimes until |
| | | | it too late. |
| What should a teen do if he or she feels they | | | | |
| are in an abusive relationship or is thinking | | | | More and more high schools are giving |
| of leaving a violent mate? You should seek | | | | frequent presentations to teens. This has |
| help from a trusted adult or a | | | | helped teens to see the warning signs of |
| domestic-violence group. | | | | dating violence and abuse. Many teens will |
| | | | then come forth with their own stories, which |
| Each case is different. In some cases you may | | | | can result in referrals to school counselors |
| need to get an order of protection. In other | | | | for further advice and instructions about |
| cases it may be enough to just break up the | | | | their situations. |
| relationship. Because of a teen's age and | | | | |
| inexperience it may be harder than adults to | | | | It is not always the girls who are being |
| recognize the warning signs of abuse. Teens | | | | abused in teen dating relationships. Females |
| often also misinterpret warning signs of | | | | are more likely to be the victims of teen |
| dating violence which includes jealousy, | | | | dating violence, but they also can be the |
| possessiveness, and sexual pressure as signs | | | | perpetrators. Anyone can be controlling and |
| of love rather than warnings signs of abuse. | | | | manipulative to the point of violence. |
| A little bit of jealousy especially in the | | | | |
| beginning of relationships is usually normal. | | | | If you are a victim of teen dating violence |
| If that jealousy turns into attempts to | | | | and abuse and cannot tell your parents or do |
| control and manipulate person violence, it | | | | not want to tell your parents, at least talk |
| can get very dangerous. | | | | to another trusted adult or school counselors |
| | | | about your problem. There are also hotlines |
| Abusive jealousy may start with little things | | | | set up in every locality for domestic |
| such as a mate forbidding you to see friends | | | | violence that anyone can call and get help. |
| alone or becoming angry at certain kinds of | | | | These lines are usually 24-hour hotlines, |
| clothing you wear, hiding car keys so you | | | | which mean if you find yourself in a violent |
| cannot leave. All these things are warning | | | | situation in the middle of the night, you can |
| signs that does not mean the other person | | | | find help through these lines. If you find |
| loves you, but the other person is not | | | | yourself in an emergency, do not hesitate to |
| reacting normally toward you in the | | | | call local 911 emergency services. It could |
| relationship and you probably should just | | | | save your life. Once you are clear of the |
| move onto someone else or just out of that | | | | situation, you can look back and see how |
| particular relationship. | | | | unproductive the relationship really was and |
| | | | keep moving until you find a mate who does |
| Messages can be confusing for teens | | | | not live his or her life just to control and |
| especially. A mate may surprise you with | | | | manipulate your life. |
| flowers and beautifully written love notes, | | | | |
| while at the same time, if he or she is upset | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| at you for visiting friends alone or is | | | | resource box. |