Dating Violence

As a teenager, college student, adult, you need to recognize the signs of abuse in a dating relationship:

• abuses drugs or alcohol
• doesn’t take you seriously
• criticizes you, humiliates or degrades you
• friends or family have warned you about him or her
• has a history of bad relationships and blames the “ex”
• constantly wants to be with you or know where you are
• calls you on your cell phone repeatedly to keep track of you
• has a violent temper, has weapons, has a violent history
• makes most of all of the decisions about the relationship
• is jealous or possessive of you and won’t let you have friends
• pressures you for sex and uses guilt trips, “if you love me…”
• says he will kill himself if you break up with him
• stalks you after you have broken up

These are warning signs that you may be in danger or experiencing abuse within your relationship.  Tell somebody you trust that you are concerned about your relationship and/or call a local crisis line to find support and referrals to assist you. 

Please check out the following sites for more detailed information and resources for Domestic Violence:

www.womanabuseprevention.com – Education Wife Assault
www.lfcc.on.ca – Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System