Some important red flags for Teen Dating Violence and Dating Abuse.

1. Red Flags
FOR DATING ABUSE

2. When will abuse occur?
There is no magical formula for when or if abuse will occur in your dating
relationship
An abusive partner does not invite you to go on a date and then begin hurting
you right away
Abuse typically begins with little things and then works it’s way up to physical
Just because you are not being hit, does not mean you are not being abused
Emotional and verbal abuse are just as serious as physical
The following are some red flags that your relationship is not healthy and
potentially abusive

3. Get’s too close too fast!
If your new boy/girlfriend rush you to be in a serious relationship right away, that’s a red flag. Relationships take time to
develop. If they want to be exclusive from day one or force you be committed before you are ready, please be careful.

4. Jealousy does not equal love!
•If your dating partner is constantly checking up
on you asking where you are, who you are
with, and what you are doing?
•Gets mad if you do not text back right away.
•Wants all your passwords and login
information.
•Isolates you from your friends and family.
•Tells you how much they miss you when you
are gone and can’t stand it when you hang out
with your friends.
•Encourages you to give up your activities so
you are more available to spend time with
them.

5. Your dating partner is much older!
The older person will naturally have:
More power in the relationship-has car, job, money, house/apt.
More sexual expectations
You may or may not:
Be confident speaking up for yourself
As experienced in relationships
And you need to ask yourself:
Why don’t they have a girl/boyfriend their own age?
Why would they want to date someone much younger?

6. You change your own behavior!
You start keeping quiet instead of voicing
your own opinion for fear of getting in trouble
Your grades drop in school
You are late to school or skip altogether
Your personality changes in either direction.
You might go from quiet and shy to doing crazy
things and partying. Or you might be the life of
the party and now all the sudden you are quiet
and withdrawn.
You use alcohol or drugs to escape what’s
happening to you.
You start lying to cover up what’s going on

7. Physical
Symptoms
Nervous sick feeling in
your stomach
Loss of appetite=Loss of
weight
Headaches
Tired all the time
Achy muscles

8. These are red flags too:
If you and your dating partner are constantly breaking up and getting back
together
If your dating partner says you are just playing around, but their play fighting
hurts or leaves marks
If your dating partner says they will kill themselves if you were ever to leave
them

9. Friends & Family do not like this person!
Your parents may have a problem with you
dating period. It’s hard for parents to realize
you are grown up enough to have your own
relationships. That’s normal.
But if EVERYONE you care about, family,
friends, teachers, and coaches are warning you
this person is not right for you, please listen.
There has to be something they see that you
are missing!

10. These are just a few red flags. Please pay attention in
your own relationships and to those relationships of
your friends!
Megan Crouch, VFC Director
Chelsie Thomas, VFC Prevention Education Coordinator
Deona Bethart, VFC Prevention Education Specialist
Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Domestic Violence Network
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Find us at:
www.violencefreecoalition.org
www.pieces2prevention.com
Shelter services: www.arcshelter.com
www.facebook.com/ViolenceFreeCoalition
Twitter: @VFCofWarrenCo
“This publication/material was supported by the 5VF1CE001114-3 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the
responsibility of the authors and do not necessary represent the official views of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention”