Are you in an unhealthy relationship? Ask yourself the following questions to find out:
- Has my partner demanded the passwords to my personal Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter accounts?
- Does my partner constantly put me down by saying hurtful or rude comments?
- Does my partner get extremely angry or jealous when I talk to any member of the opposite sex?
- Has my partner ever physically hurt me?
- Does my partner constantly text or call me, or get mad when I spend time with my friends or family?
- Has my partner ever sabotaged, hidden or refused to go along with my birth control choice?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be in an abusive relationship. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize when you’re in abusive relationship, especially if your boy/girlfriend says he/she only acts jealous or angry because “they love you.”
The fact is, love is about respect, and should not be physically, verbally, or emotionally hurtful.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, it may feel like you are alone. However, there are resources and ways to get help. A great way to do this is to create a safety plan where you can get prepared to end the relationship. Loveisrespect.org provides a downloadable safety plan workbook which you can follow step-by-step to help you leave safely.
Click here to download your safety plan workbook.
Some of the steps to take in your safety plan are:
- Reach out to someone you trust. Whether it’s a parent, a teacher or school counselor, confiding in an adult you trust means you no longer have to face your partner alone. An adult can help provide support and guidance along the way.
- Call a teen violence hotline. There are many organizations across the U.S. that support teens who have been abused by their partners. Many of these have hotlines you can call which provide professional help, resources, and even peer support. Here are some hotlines you can call:
- Loveisrespect.org: 1-866-331-9474 or live chat with a peer advocate by clicking here.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−SAFE (7233)
- Use online resources. If you can’t get to a phone, there are plenty of resources available online for help on taking action. Here are some websites you can visit: