Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationSet Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Health and Wellness
  • For Teens by Teens
  • Abuse and Violence
  • Dating Violence: Signs and Risks
Content

Dating Violence: Signs and Risks

Are you in an abusive relationship? Learn warning signs and how to end it.

Teens Participating in the Summer Wellness Programs

Teens Participating in the Summer Wellness Programs

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Sometimes relationships don’t work out. The danger signs of an unhealthy relationship can include:

  • Lack of honest communication.
  • Lack of listening.
  • No trust.
  • Lack of Respect.

These warning signs can act as “red lights” in your relationship. You can stop and figure out if your relationship is abusive before things get out of control.

Characteristics of Your Partner

If two or more of the following descriptions apply to your relationship partner, you could be in an abusive relationship — or you could potentially be in a relationship that may become abusive.

Are you going out with someone who:

  • Is jealous and possessive, won’t let you have friends, constantly checks up on you and won’t accept breaking up?
  • Tries to control you by being bossy, telling you how to dress, giving orders, making all the decisions and not taking your opinions seriously?
  • Puts you down in front of friends or tells you that you would be nothing without the relationship?
  • Scares you?
  • Makes you worry about reactions to things you say or do?
  • Threatens you?
  • Uses or owns guns or other weapons?
  • Is violent?
  • Has a history of fighting, losing temper quickly or bragging about mistreating others?
  • Grabs, pushes, shoves or hits you?
  • Pressures you for sex or is forceful or scary about sex?
  • Gets too serious about the relationship too fast?
  • Abuses alcohol or other drugs and pressures you to take them?
  • Has a history of failed relationships and blames the other person for all the problems?
  • Makes your family and friends uneasy and concerned for your safety?
  • Makes you feel like you need to apologize to yourself or others for their behavior when your partner treats you badly?

Risks of an Abusive Relationship

Once you recognize that you’re in an abusive relationship, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Depending on how long the abuse has been going on, you may feel isolated from your old friends and unable to turn to anyone for help. However, there are resources available.

The first thing you need to think about is how to get out of the relationship. Abuse tends to escalate, so the longer you remain in the relationship, the more you are in danger.

Being in an abusive relationship also has serious consequences for your mental and physical health. Potential risks include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Headaches
  • Nervousness
  • Weight loss
  • Bruises or broken bones
  • Sadness
  • Self-blame
  • Confusion
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt
  • Shame
  • Mistrust of self
  • Mistrust of others
  • Depression
  • Fear
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Terror
  • Permanent injury
  • Homicide/murder
  • Suicide

Last Reviewed: November 2018

Related Articles

  • Healing and Self-Care After Abuse
  • Types of Abuse
  • Dating Violence: How to End Relationship Abuse
  • What is Sexual Abuse?
  • Flirting vs. Sexual Harassment
  • What is Sexual Harassment?
The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Request Medical Records
  • Make a Gift
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences