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