Being in a relationship isn’t supposed to be scary.

You shouldn’t feel afraid of a person who claims to love you.

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474

Warning Signs:

• 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.

If you are afraid of your dating partner, consider applying for a protection order. Teenagers can apply for protection orders from Juvenile Court at the court house and there is no cost. Protection orders require the person named stay away from you.

Abuse isn’t love, and it’s never your fault!

 

 

 

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Healthy Relationships GREEN Flags:

Does your boyfriend or girlfriend…

• View you as an equal?
• Respect your personal boundaries?
• Treat you fairly?
• Make you feel safe emotionally and physically?
• Listen to your feelings?
• Respect your opinions and values?
• Support your goals?
• Solve your problems with you?
• Support you spending time with your own family and friends?
• Trust you?
• Discuss disagreements calmly?
• Allow the relationship to go at your pace?
• Communicate openly and honestly?

 

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Unhealthy Relationships RED Flags:

• Try to control you?
• Get jealous or accuse you of cheating?
• Expect you to check-in all the time?
• Embarrass you or put you down?
• Threaten to hurt you or your pets?
• Make you feel like you don’t have the right to say no?
• Isolate you from your family and friends?
• Make decisions for you?
• Physically restrain you?
• Threaten or force unwanted sexual activity?
• Share innapropiate information about you?
• Easily loose his/her temper?
• Scare you by: Acting violently? Driving dangerously? Yelling and calling you names? Slamming doors? Hitting, kicking or throwing stuff?

 

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The Teen’s Dating Bill of Rights. Remember these are your rights. You deserve them. Believe in yourself and settle for nothing less. 

• I have the right to follow my own values and standards.
• I have the right to change my mind.
• I have the right to make mistakes.
• I have the right to set boundaries and make my own choices.
• I have the right to end a relationship.
• I have the right to change and grow.
• I have the right to be happy.
• I have the right to high self-esteem.
• I have the right to be safe on a date.

If you need more information www.loveisrespect.org is a great tool for teens who are experiencing or know of someone experiencing teen relationship violence. You can chat with an advocate online or through text, and of course if you’d like more information on your local programs and a local advocate feel free to call our hotline at 740-512-6092 or 740-283-3444.