Healthy Relationships: What Young Love Should Really Look Like...

Young love can be an unclear thing, but the line between an abusive and healthy relationship shouldn’t be. Speak out to break the cycle. By: Nataly Quito, Will Ladas, Guadalupe Herrera

1. Are You Among the Numbers?

Via youtube.com

1 of 3 high school students in the United States will experience some sort physical, verbal, mental or sexual violence from their dating partner.

2. Victims of physical abuse experience…

A. Visible physical injuries.

B. Higher rates of psychological symptoms throughout the relationship.

3. What is love?

Healthy relationships consist of trust, honesty, respect, equality and compromise.

4. If you are in a violent or abusive relationship...

A. Your partner may be controlling.

B. He or she may feel to attached to you.

C. They limit who you see or where you go most of the time.

5. Difficult to escape.

One reason many individuals feel trapped in an abusive relationship is a result of lacking support from family and friends (Schwartz & Scott, 2012).

6. Abuse isn't only physical

Via youth.gov

Emotional abuse can be any form of destructive behavior towards a person's self-esteem and self-worth.

7. You are NOT alone!

Nationwide, teens can utilize national resources such as the National Dating Abuse Helpline located on the loveisrespect.org. website. (Love is not Abuse, p. 18).

8. Fight the silence

Via healthyplace.com

While you decide when leaving an abusive situation is right for you, breaking the cycle will take breaking the silence.