What is Domestic Violence?
Teen Dating Violence
Is My Boyfriend/Girlfriend Abusing Me?
Does Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend:
- Call you names or put you down?
- Belittle you in front of other people?
- Check up on you through text messages/phone calls to see where you are/who you are with?
- Tell you what kind of clothes/makeup you can and can't wear?
- Keep you away from your friends?
- Keep you away from your family?
- Have to know where you are and who you are with at all times?
- Insist that you spend all your time together?
- Check up on you at home? Work? School?
- Insist that you carry a cell phone so he/she can reach you?
- Become angry if you don't answer/return his/her call or he/she can't reach you?
- Threaten to hurt you? Your friends? Your family? Your pets?
- Deny his/her controlling/abusive behavior?
- Minimize his/her physical abuse? "I only shoved you."
- Force you to do things you don't want to do? Alcohol? Drugs? Sex?
- Tell you the abuse is your fault? You made him/her do it?
- Threaten to break up with you if you don't do what he/she wants?
- Threaten to hurt himself/herself or others if you break up with him/her?
I think I may be a victim of teen dating violence. What should I do?
If you have experienced anything that made you feel uncomfortable
or afraid of your boyfriend or girlfriend, know that you are not
alone.
- Talk to a teacher, adult, parent, friend or someone
anonymously.
- The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1.866.331.9474 or TTY 1.866.331.8453 is available for you to talk to a peer advocate.
- Your local domestic violence program; find one thru the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 1.800.942.6906 or TTY 1.800.818.0656
- Create a safety plan with ideas of who you could talk to or a safe place you could go to if the abuse happens again.
- If you are in danger call the police.
- If you are hurt see a doctor or go to the hospital.
- Know that the abuse is not your fault. Often abusers will blame their girlfriend or boyfriend for the abuse. But he or she is making the choice to hurt you emotionally or physically.
