There are different types of abuse in relationships.
There can be physical abuse to your body – like hitting. There is emotional abuse – when someone is always trying to hurt your feelings. There is also sexual abuse – when someone tries to touch you in a sexual way without you agreeing to it.
It can happen to both men and women. If you have a learning disability it may be easy for someone to abuse you – because it may be difficult for you to tell people when they are saying or doing something you are not happy with.
So – If you find it difficult to communicate your feelings to your boyfriend or girlfriend you may not be able to speak up for yourself when then say or do hurtful things.
What is abuse?
There is a website called Girls Health and tells you a lot about what is and isn't abuse. The information is useful to boys as well as girls!! It has advice on how to stop the relationship.
Always talk to someone you can trust if you think you are being abused
If you have a learning difficulty it may be difficult to to tell others people that you have been abused. You may not be able to say what you want to. You may think someone will not understand you.
A relationship is abusive when:-
Your partner says things to you that are really nasty all the time
When you think your partner tries to make you upset or cry
When you are injured by another person and they wanted to hurt you
You do not really understand what is being asked if the person wants sex
You do not know how to say no to sex
You do not know you have a right to say no to sex
You are too afraid to say no to sex
A relationship is not abusive when:-
You and you partner want to be together
You and you partner respect each other
You and your partner do not try to hurt each other by saying or doing nasty things
How can you get help?
If your boyfriend or girlfriend is abusing you, you may feel alone. You may lose your confidence or think. You may think that it is your fault that your girlfriend or boyfriend is being nasty. If you are being abused it is important to talk about it. There are lots of organisations that have people who can help.
Websites to visit:
Making choices Keeping safe
After 16
Woman Abuse Prevention
