As teens start to date, it is important for them to know what a healthy relationship is.
In a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 26% of women and 15% of men reported experiencing domestic abuse before the age of 18. Domestic abuse can include emotional and psychological abuse, sexual violence, and physical violence. It can happen to anyone and is typically progressive.
Looking Through Your Partner’s Phone
With phones and digital devices becoming a staple in everyday life, many feel that looking through a partner’s phone without them knowing is normal. Instead, teens should practice healthy forms of communication with their partner and tell them their concerns instead of violating their privacy.
Behaviors like this may be a sign there is a lack of trust in the relationship. If you feel as though something is wrong or that your partner is hiding things from you, follow your instincts.
Communicating 24/7
With today’s technology, a lot of young people are constantly in contact with their partner. In a relationship, each person can have separate lives, and that’s okay. Constantly looking at your phone or texting your partner because you are afraid they will get angry if you don’t is unhealthy. If your partner insists you are in contact with them constantly, this is possessive behavior and is not a healthy way to communicate.
Monitoring or Controlling Your Behavior
You may not recognize that certain behaviors are controlling. For example, demanding passwords to social media accounts, frequently checking your location, restricting contact with certain friends or family members, and choosing what you wear are all examples of red flags. In a healthy relationship, no one is in control of the other person or watching their every move.
Other potential red flags of domestic abuse:
Knowing the signs of domestic abuse can help prevent teen dating violence. Teens need to know what a healthy relationship is and how to find help if they have an abusive partner.
If you or a loved one is in an abusive relationship or experiencing domestic violence, there is help. Residents in Osceola County can call Help Now of Osceola, Inc. at their 24-hour crisis hotline: (407) 847-8562. You can also find more resources on their website.
The Check-In Project is a mental health initiative of Wraparound Osceola, working to break the stigma surrounding mental health. Our goal is to provide families with the tools and resources needed to check-in with each other while fostering healthy family life.