Experts, advocates discuss domestic violence warning signs
Within about a month's time, two separate incidents involving teenagers have happened in central North Carolina.
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Within about a month’s time, two separate incidents involving teenagers have happened in central North Carolina.
“Not all relationships are healthy. There is a risk associated with dating,” said Ryan Kelly. “Often times, what is happening in a teen dating relationship may be played down or chalked up to youthful behavior.”
“It is just as serious and just as dangerous as intimate partner violence amongst adults,” Kelly said.
Being new the dating world, Kelly said it’s important to recognizes patterns of behavior.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner,” she explained.
That, Kelly clarified, is very different than when a partner gets angry once-in-a-while.
“If an offender has threatened the life of their dating partner, if they have used physical force against them, if they are stalking them…and if there is access to a firearm, these are all risk factors that can significantly increase the likelihood that that abusive partner is going to seriously injure or kill their partner. That is true for teens and adults,” she said.
“Teens look for purpose. They find purpose is many different ways. That purpose may be in another person,” she explained.
Brown mentioned the added pressures and unhealthy standards that have been set by social media.
“If I’m getting that standard off of something that is publicized…then that must mean it’s healthy, that it’s ok. It’s a social norm,” she said. However, that is not the case. She said the pandemic contributed to more codependency in relationships.
“We’ve got an impact of not being with anyone, that isolation, increase in anxiety and depression. ‘I don’t want to be alone. I can’t do without this person. They’re my everything.’”
Brown also provided advice for people who may know of, or be skeptical of, a domestic abuse situation.
“If they’re just not yet ready, continue to offer services but don’t allow too much pressure on them. At the end of the day, that’s a decision they’re going to have to make.”
InterAct also has a 24/7 hotline: 919.828.7740.
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