Do you ever feel like something isn’t quite right in your relationship?
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, especially in our most intimate relationships. We all have the right to be taken seriously and treated equally in our relationships, to make our own decisions and be able to say ‘no’. Check out your Relationship Rights here.
If you and your partner fight a lot it could be a sign that your relationship isn’t working. Although being in a relationship means sometimes compromising, decisions should be made equally. You shouldn’t have to give up your friends or your interests for your partner. If you feel overwhelmed by your partner’s needs and demands, or like you don’t know who you are anymore, it might be time to think about where your relationship is heading. Read here about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly sides to love or Take this quiz to see if your relationship is healthy.
If your partner is overly jealous or controlling you could be in an abusive relationship. Abusive behaviour includes emotional abuse, social abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse and physical abuse.
• Are always putting you down or criticising you.
• Threaten to commit suicide if you leave them
• Are constantly checking up on your whereabouts
• Stop you from seeing your friends and family.
• Make you feel guilty about going to work, school or socialising.
• Take control of your money when you don’t want them to.
• Prevent you from having access to money.
• Force you to have sex, or do other sexual things you don’t want to.
• Threaten to physically harm you, your family members or pets.
• Push, hit or throw things at you.
Are you happy? Read here about the different types of abuse here and what you can do if you think your relationship may be abusive. You can also take the quiz, is it love or control? Read more about love and relationships at Love, the good, the bad and the ugly. For more information about relationship abuse visit DVRCV, or download the iMatter App.
Is someone you know in an abusive relationship? Check out DVRCV’s page for families, friends and neighbours or for how your support can make a difference.
If you have a disability and think you are being abused read this page: Getting safe against the odds.
If you are ever in immediate danger you should call the police on 000. If you are experiencing any type of violence in your relationship, the best thing you can do is talk to someone about it. Try talking to an adult you trust, like a teacher or the school counsellor.
You might be able to apply for a Protection Order (also known as an intervention order) that will stop your partner from contacting you or being near you. Protection orders are different in every state, check out 1800 RESPECT to find out how they work, and how to apply for one, in your state.
You can call 1800RESPECT or Kids Helpline for confidential counselling and advice.
If one of your friends is experiencing violence in their relationship try to support them as much as you can, be there for them and listen to them. Let them know there are places they can go for support like Kids Helpline or 1800RESPECT.
