RELATIONSHIPS- PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL ABUSE

By: Jacquelin N. Vasquez

INTRODUCTION:

• Many people believe that teenagers live a comfortable, care free life, but this is far from the truth. In reality they go through many undesirable struggles that a person at their age shouldn’t have to deal with. Statistics show that in the past year one in every ten teens say they have been physically abused at least once by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Although abuse is usually associated with adults, it has increasingly become an issue for teenagers. In the following presentation we will review different types of relationship abuse, signs, consequences, and how to get help.

DEFINITION OF ABUSE AND THE SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

• Abuse is known as bad or improper treatment not only physical but also includes emotional, digital, sexual, etc.

• Abusive relationships are accompanied by some warning signs other than the obvious bruises, which include:

• Changes in mood or behavior• Lose of interest in daily activities• Depression • Anxiety• Self-harm• Separation from family and friends

PHYSICAL ABUSE:

• Physical abuse is intentional bodily harm inflicted on someone by another individual. Physical abuse has the most obvious signs and includes forms of violence such as:• Hitting• Punching• Slapping• Pushing• Kicking

EMOTIONAL ABUSE:

• Emotional abuse in a teenage relationship is defined as a dating partner making the other feel intimidated or diminished.

• Examples of this include but are not limited to the following:• Insults• Possessiveness• Humiliation• Controlling behavior• Threats and accusations

DIGITAL ABUSE:• Digital abuse is when a boyfriend or girlfriend uses any form of

technology to harm or intimidate their partner. This abuse has become very common due to the increase of technology use and it includes the following:

• Cyber-bullying • Harassing• Stalking• Texting• Pressuring for personal information (passwords, accounts, etc.)

SEXUAL ABUSE:

• Sexual abuse is when a dating partner forces or pressure the other partner into sexual experiences they aren’t comfortable with. It not only includes physical coerces but verbal and emotional ones as well such as:

• Unwanted touching• Pressured sexual activities• Violence without physical contact• Threats to find a new dating partner that will comply with the conditions

mentioned• Verbal harassment

CONSEQUENCES:

• When most teenagers hear the word consequence they think mom and dad getting upset but relationship abuse entails much more than parental troubles, not only for the victim but also for the culprit some of which are as follows:

Perpetrator:Criminal recordNo collegeConflict with Friends and familyPrison

Victim:InjuriesFeeling of isolationSexually transmitted diseases (STD’s)Unwanted pregnanciesDepressionAnxietyFearSuicidal thoughts

PREVENTION AND WHERE TO FIND HELP:

• Many organizations are joining forces to create awareness amongst teens, communities, and families. Some methods of prevention include:

• Education• Steps to form healthy relationships• Respect• Awareness• Some teenagers don’t feel that they can find help with their parents,

consequently a National Teen Dating Helpline was created along with crisis centers and abuse hotlines where they can find help.

WORKS CITED

• http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/abuse.html• http://houseofruthinc.org/teen-dating-violence• http://www.bestmartbewell.com/spotlight-newsletter/teen-dating-abuse/fe

ature.htm