dating violence

Early Warning Signs

 DOES YOUR PARTNER:

o Threaten to hurt/hit you
o Call you names and put you down?
o Say things to frighten you?
o Threaten to take your children away?
o Destroy your personal property?
o Get angry when you talk or visit your friends or family?
o Take your money?
o Slap you, punch you, or push you?
o Force you into sexual activity against your will?

If you answered yes to any of these, you might be a victim of Teen Dating Violence.

Early warning signs that you are in a dangerous relationship can include:

EXTREME JEALOUSY
Everyone gets jealous sometimes; the key word is "extreme." Both boys and girls can become extremely jealous. Signs of extreme jealousy are when your partner gets made if you talk to other people, have good friends, or express warm feelings for anyone else. The jealous person may withdraw sulk, or become angry and abusive.

POSSESSIVENESS
This becomes a danger when one partner completely rules the relationship and makes all the decisions. Your point of view is not important. Often the controlling partner tries to tell the other how to dress, who to talk to, and where to go.

CONTROLLING ATTITUDE
This happens when one partner completely rules the relationship and makes all the decisions. Your point of view is not important. Often the controlling partner tries to tell the other how to dress, who to talk to, and where to go.

LOW SELF-ESTEEM
People with low self-esteem don?t like themselves very much. In a dating relationship a person with low self-esteem may say, ?I?m nothing without you,? or ?You are my world.? These are great lines for songs, but not for real life.

UNPREDICTABLE MOOD SWINGS
Nobody stays in the same mood all the time, but a dramatic shift from being jealous, controlling, or angry to being sweet, charming, and loving is another danger sing.

 ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE
Many of the repeated violent episodes in dating relationships are carried out when one or both partners have been drinking or doing drugs. Alcohol and drug use lower a person?s self-control but are not the direct cause of violence.

 EXPLOSIVE ANGER
Even if you have never seen someone being aggressive toward another person, watch out for people who seem to get too angry. These people may hit walls or lockers, yell loudly, call names or actually threaten others with violence