| Before you continue in a dating relationship, you need | | | | rape crisis centers, health services, counseling |
| to ask the following two questions: "Is there already | | | | centers, youth organizations, churches or spiritual |
| abuse going on in the relationship?" And, "how can I | | | | centers, your family health care provider, and other |
| safely get out of it?" | | | | similar places. |
| Considering that 33.33% of all teen girls are abused | | | | 3. If the abuse happens at school, report it to a |
| by their dates there's a 1 in 3 chance that abuse is | | | | school counselor or security officer or principal. |
| going on right now. The truth is that the longer you | | | | 4. Keep a log of the abuse. You may need it for |
| stay in the abusive relationship, the more intense the | | | | evidence if you have to take legal action. (Date, time, |
| violence will become. It does not get better over | | | | what happened, who saw it or heard it, and where it |
| time. And, no one is justified in attacking you just | | | | happened. |
| because he or she is angry. No one, including you | | | | 5. Under NO, ABSOLUTELY NO circumstances should |
| deserves to be abused. Nope, you don't. That is not | | | | you meet the abuser alone. Do not let the abuser in |
| your purpose in life. | | | | your home or car when you are alone. |
| Also, you must consider that the most dangerous | | | | 6. Avoid being alone at school, your job, or on the |
| time is when some is trying to leave the abusive | | | | way to and from places. Stay in a group. |
| relationship or have already left it. | | | | 7. Always tell someone where you are going and |
| Here is a checklist of things to remember and things | | | | when you plan to be back. |
| you can do. | | | | 8. Establish a regular time or place to contact |
| 1. Talk with your parents, another family member, a | | | | someone so they will know to check on you if they |
| friend, a counselor, a faith or spiritual leader, or | | | | do not hear from you as scheduled. |
| someone else you trust. If you remain isolated from | | | | 9. Develop a safety plan and rehearse what you will |
| friends and family, your abuser has more opportunity | | | | do ifthe abuser becomes abusive. Do it on paper and |
| to control and abuse you. | | | | rehearse it! |
| 2. Get help from professionals. Your community will | | | | 10. Give yourself some space, maybe you need to |
| have places you can go for help. Look for help at | | | | take a break from dating. |