I know this isn’t something I had to deal with, or perhaps wasn’t aware of when I was in high school, and as the parent of a teen, you may not be aware of it either. But, studies indicate that 1 in 3 teens will experience some sort of abuse in a dating relationship and two-thirds of them will never report it. I don’t know about you, but that blows me away. Now, we’re not talking just physical abuse; we’re talking about emotional abuse, mental abuse, verbal abuse and sexual abuse.

What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Abuse in a Dating Relationship

Most often, teens aren’t even aware they are being abused. They think being pressured into having oral sex, intercourse, being hit or talked down to from their boyfriend or girlfriend is normal in a relationship. The best way to prevent this is to educate them about what is proper treatment from another person. You can get this type of information from Break the Cycle, Love is Respect, and Love is Not Abuse. You can also Google “teen dating abuse” and browse the web for further information and help.

How to know if Your Teen has been abused in a Dating Relationship

If two-thirds of teens that are abuses won’t open up about it, how do you know or what are some signs you can look for? One of the major signs your teen is being abused in a dating relationship is if the other person in the relationship seems to be controlling or overbearing. This is probably the most common sign to spot from an outsider and includes telling them how to dress, having to know where they are at all times, not allowing them to hang out with other friends, and humiliating them in front of others.

Other signs may include:

• Getting upset when told to turn off their cell phone
• Not hanging out with their usual circle of friends
• Isolating themselves with just their boyfriend or girlfriend
• Withdrawn
• Angry
• Makes excuses for their boyfriend or girlfriend

If you see any of these signs in your teen or perhaps one of their friends, seek help immediately! Call 911 or your nearest women’s shelter. You should also call the parents of your teen’s friend, if that is the case. Counseling is also advised for anyone who has ever been in an abusive relationship. You can also put an personal protective order against the abuser through a court order.

Yes, it is possible to understand your teen. Check out Real Life Guidance To Understanding Your Teen and learn how.