relationships

BeSmart

Relationships

Abusive relationships

Young people can experience domestic abuse in a multitude of ways. They can:

  • Experience domestic abuse in the family home and may be directly victimised by the perpetrator.
  • They can also experience domestic abuse in their own intimate partner relationships.
  • They may demonstrate harmful behaviours themselves towards partners or family members.

Signs to look out for:

  • Your partner going through your phone or constantly contacting you 24/7.
  • Controlling behaviour such as being told what to wear, needing to know where they are or what they are doing, and having to change your appearance.
  • Feeling pressure to do things you are not comfortable with. This could include being pressured into sex or sending nudes or sexual images (sexting).
  • Having their money, access to food or day-to-day items controlled.
  • Getting bullied, hurt, or hit.
  • Receiving gifts but feeling you need to do something in return.

Understanding relationship abuse

Created by the BBC, The Social

Healthy relationships

Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other’s independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions. If or when a relationship ends, there is no stalking or refusal to let the other partner go. A healthy relationship is one where you treat and are treated with respect. No relationship is perfect and you’ll definitely have moments when minor disagreements will rise to the surface causing frustrations.

 

Factors that contribute:

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Commitment

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Respect

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Honesty

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Sense of self worth

Remember a good relationship is all about respect. You should feel safe, loved and free to be you.