I have the right to my own thoughts, feelings and opinions.
I have the right to be respected by my boyfriend/girlfriend.
I have the right to spend time alone or with others I choose.
I have the right to end the relationship at any time for any reason.
I do not have the right to control, threaten, force, or abuse my girlfriend/boyfriend at any time for any reason.
We know that it can be difficult, or uncomfortable, talking to parents or friends about what is happening in your life. But, if you are in an abusive relationship or you know someone who is, you need to tell an adult. One in five teens report being abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. The truth is, the abuse won't go away on its own, and it may even get worse. Talk to an adult you trust about your relationship concerns. Call our 24-Hour Hotline to talk to someone who understands, won't judge, and can help you.
I really, really liked this guy. I mean, he was pretty cute and he seemed really nice. We were in the same Science class and I told my friend Andrea to tell him that I liked him. I was so happy that he liked me too. We started hanging out, meeting up with his friends and sometimes my friends. Then he thought one of his friends might like me so he told me that I couldn’t go around his friends anymore. Then, he thought that my friends were in our business, so he told me that I couldn’t talk to my friends anymore. Then, anybody I talked to, he would get jealous. He would yell at me and call me stupid for not being able to tell who liked me. One time, I did try to break up with him, but he slapped me in the face and told me that I was being selfish. I was scared, but he told me he was sorry and that if I forgave him, he would let me talk to my best friend again. He seemed really sorry, so I forgave him. Then, a few months later, he got angry with me for not skipping school with him. He slapped me again, but this time, he punched and kicked me. I didn’t tell anybody, but when the violence got worse – he twisted my arm so hard that my shoulder dislocated – the doctor that I saw for my shoulder told my mom that he thought that I was being abused. Finally, I admitted to my mom that my boyfriend was hitting me. I was scared. I didn’t want him to get in trouble. I mean, I knew that I made him mad sometimes, but I would do stuff anyway. It was only after seeing a counselor – that my mom made me see – that I realized that this relationship was dangerous and that I had to leave. I finally got out of the relationship. And even though I blamed myself for a lot, with the help of my counselor, I realized that the abuse wasn’t my fault. None of it was my fault. Being hit and punched is not a normal part of a relationship. I decided that I want to go to college and be a counselor. I want to help other girls that might be going through the same thing I did.
I really, really liked this guy. I mean, he was pretty cute and he seemed really nice. We were in the same Science class and I told my friend Andrea to tell him that I liked him. I was so happy that he liked me too. We started hanging out, meeting up with his friends and sometimes my friends. Then he thought one of his friends might like me so he told me that I couldn’t go around his friends anymore. Then, he thought that my friends were in our business, so he told me that I couldn’t talk to my friends anymore. Then, anybody I talked to, he would get jealous. He would yell at me and call me stupid for not being able to tell who liked me. One time, I did try to break up with him, but he slapped me in the face and told me that I was being selfish. I was scared, but he told me he was sorry and that if I forgave him, he would let me talk to my best friend again. He seemed really sorry, so I forgave him. Then, a few months later, he got angry with me for not skipping school with him. He slapped me again, but this time, he punched and kicked me. I didn’t tell anybody, but when the violence got worse – he twisted my arm so hard that my shoulder dislocated – the doctor that I saw for my shoulder told my mom that he thought that I was being abused. Finally, I admitted to my mom that my boyfriend was hitting me. I was scared. I didn’t want him to get in trouble. I mean, I knew that I made him mad sometimes, but I would do stuff anyway. It was only after seeing a counselor – that my mom made me see – that I realized that this relationship was dangerous and that I had to leave. I finally got out of the relationship. And even though I blamed myself for a lot, with the help of my counselor, I realized that the abuse wasn’t my fault. None of it was my fault. Being hit and punched is not a normal part of a relationship. I decided that I want to go to college and be a counselor. I want to help other girls that might be going through the same thing I did. 
