Domestic Violence Counseling: Domestic Violence Facts & Teen Dating

Domestic Violence Facts & Teen Dating

Dating and relationships are a normal part of growing up for many teenagers, though many teens form their first romantic relationships without any idea of what constitutes "healthy" dating. Because of this naivete, they are more likely to get caught in a verbal, physical, or sexually abusive relationship. If you or your teen is involved in an "unhealthy" relationship or one that has grown into one of domestic violence, the following teen dating help may be useful.

Domestic Violence Facts: 45% percent of girls reported they had encountered some form of physical aggression or physical abuse during the course of dating. In another survey, girls reported they were victims of physical violence and domestic violence significantly more often then their male classmates. This suggests that a large percentage of girls are being physically abused when they refuse unwanted sexual advances.

Teen Dating is Similar to Domestic Violence: Teen dating violence is similar to domestic violence in that it has a distinct pattern of three stages of abuse repeated over and over again: tension building, explosion, and the apology. During the tension building stage the couple may argue a lot. Abusers may yell for no reason and make false accusations against their partners. The atmosphere between the couple is tense and the tension builds with each interaction, finally coming to a head and resulting in domestic violence: the tension is released in a burst of verbal, emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse. Afterwards, abusers apologize profusely and promise to never be abusive again.

Although generally the patterns and signs of teen dating violence tend to mirror adult abusive relationships, there are some unique issues that teens face.

Verbal or emotional abuse involves one person trying to control their partner's behaviors manipulate their feelings. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Threatening violence or harm
• Harassment over the internet, via text, and other forms of technology
• Telling the person what to do
• Making racial slurs about the person
• Making the person feel responsible for the abuse/violence
• Name-calling and put-downs
• Yelling and screaming
• Embarrassing the person in front of others
• Intimidation
• Spreading negative rumors about the person
• Preventing the person from seeing family and friends

Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to:

• Biting
• Slapping
• Shoving
• Pulling hair
• Punching
• Pinching
• Scratching
• Kicking
• Pushing
• Choking

Domestic Violence Counseling and Teen Dating:

If you're experiencing a few or any of these behaviors, don't hesitate to learn how you can seek domestic violence counseling and end an abusive relationship. Learn more about those issues in relation to domestic violence, and learn how to put an abusive teen relationship to end, or remove yourself from a situation of domestic violence.

Nearly 80% percent of girls who have been physically abused in their intimate relationships continue to date their abusers and eventually end up in a domestically violent living situation. Ending a relationship is a difficult and involved process, even in a healthy situation and in a physically abusive relationship, it can sometimes seem impossible. With the support of friends, family, domestic violence counseling, and school, end your unhealthy relationship by learning more information on teen dating violence and discovering good teenage dating advice and domestic violence counseling.

Bio: E. Ronchetti is an independent contractor working to market http://www.Soroptimist.org and would like to share their wonderful information on teenage dating, teen dating advice, and domestic violence. This and many other resources for teens and parents on Domestic Violence Counseling, Domestic Violence Facts & Teen Dating can be found on the Soroptimist website.