Domestic and dating violence can negatively impact or even end your life, so here is a list of some ways to avoid it:
- Having sex early in a relationship can cloud better judgment. If you don’t know someone well enough to share your checking account number, then why would you share your body?
- Abusive partners will be charming in the beginning. If a guy walked up, called you demeaning names, and punched you in the face; you would not date him; therefore, take your time getting to know someone before you decide they are worth dating.
- Spend time with a potential dating partner in a variety of settings. See how they react when things go wrong, such as waiting in long lines or getting cut off in traffic. The way they treat others is the way they will one day treat you.
- There will come a shift in behavior. It could be sudden or gradual. But when it is realized, that is the time to take action and begin separating yourself from that person.
- They will apologize for their bad behavior and beg for forgiveness. Forgive them, but forget them, and do not look back.
- The behavior might be a sudden negative opinion about the way you dress, who you hang out with, how you spend your time, or interrogations about where you were.
- Look at the person you are dating as a friend. If you would not accept the behavior from a friend, then do not accept it from a person you could potentially spend the rest of your life with.
- It might start as emotional abuse, but the threats or actions to harm you will come later on if you do not act in the beginning.
Remember that the point of dating is to make yourself happy. If your partner is making you unhappy, then what exactly is the point?
For more information, you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-7233.