About Dating Abuse
Relationships may last anywhere from a few days or weeks to a few months or years, with some ups and downs as well as intense emotional, romantic and sexual feelings.
Abusive dating relationships often begin just like healthy, loving ones.
- An abusive partner may be caring, attentive and romantic in the relationship’s beginning but may become more controlling, possessive or jealous over time.
- Abusive behaviors might only occur in private so that friends and family members remain unaware of the abuse.
- Once others become concerned, the dating abuse victim may make excuses for the abusive partner’s behaviors or feel at fault and take the blame for provoking the abuse.
To get helpful advice and learn about the warning signs of abuse so that you can spot them in your dating relationship or be prepared to help a loved one in an abusive dating relationship, you can:
- Watch Don’t Let Yourself, a two-part, 20-minute video created by teens in Texas
- Visit love is respect, a site designed for young people in dating relationships
- Talk, chat online, or text a helpline counselor
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Relationships
LGBTQ teens and young adults may also become involved with an abusive partner. In a 2008 community assessment, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) found widespread experiences of violence among LGBTQ people in Virginia. Of the respondents who participated in the assessment:
- 41% had been in an abusive relationship
- 30% had been stalked
- 36% had experienced sexual violence as a youth (17 and younger)
- 26% had experienced sexual violence as an adult
In July 2013, the first Virginia telephone helpline was launched for LGBTQ Virginians to report and seek assistance with partner abuse and sexual violence. Call 1-800-838-8238 or go to the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance for more details.
Preventing Abuse & Promoting Healthy Relationships
Arlington’s Project PEACE is happy to provide technical assistance and resources. For more information and/or support, email info-projectpeace@arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-1678.
- Curricula
- Male-Specific Resources
- Faith Community Resources
- Campaigns & Social Action Resources
- Online Resources
- Special Population Resources
- Parent Resources
- Video Resources
- Other Prevention Resource Guides
Preventing Abuse & Promoting Healthy Relationships has valuable resources for teachers, faith leaders, youth workers, counselors, coaches, and parents on how to prevent dating abuse and promote healthy dating relationships.
Dating Abuse Hotlines
love is respect
24-hour hotline: 1-866-331-9474
Text “loveis” to 22522
Chat
Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance
24-hour hotline: 1-800-838-8238
Text: 804-793-9999
Chat
#MeToo: Being Men-Raising Men Community Panel 04-10-19