| Recognizing
teens who are being abused |
Not all teens in abusive relationships are easy to detect.
Often, the last person you would ever suspect is being
abused by someone they care about and love. Below are
some signs you can look for in teenagers |
| |
| Physical
scars or marks |
| Bruises,
especially on the upper arm(s) may indicate abuse. Wearing
turtlenecks or long pants during warm weather may serve
as a "cover up" from beatings. Stitches, scars
and explanations that don't match injuries are probable
indicators of physical abuse. |
| |
| Changes
in appearance |
| To
avoid making their partner jealous, many abused teens
change their style of dress. They may stop wearing makeup,
wear baggy, less attractive clothing or dress in a style
that does not match their personality. Is the female teenager
always or never dressing to show her figure? Changes in
weight... gains and/or losses are commonly due to the
stress and anxiety caused by being abused. |
| |
| Attitude
& Feelings |
| Is
the teenager having a difficult time making eye contact
with you? Does s/he seem less confident or apathetic about
their life? Does s/he appear very defensive? Does s/he
alternate between bagging about the relationship and being
quiet about the relationship? Does s/he seem afraid to
answer questions pertaining to their relationship? Does
s/he appear to be overly nervous or anxious? Is their
partner always with them, never leaving them alone with
you? Does s/he avoid contact with members of the opposite
sex? Does s/he seem to have frequent medical problems
such as stomach aches or headaches? |
| |
| Isolation |
| Is
all their time spent with their partner? Does s/he miss
school or classes regularly? Are they no longer interested
in after school activate or dubs? Have they stopped talking
about any other friends and/or family members? |
