Teen Drama, Teen Trauma

The following article is part four of a four-week series focusing on raising awareness about dating violence. February is Dating Violence Awareness month, and we hope to educate our community on this very important issue. 1 in 3 young people will experience dating violence in their lifetime.

Locally, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has been serving victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse since 1978. Last year, HCWC served 2,269 victims of abuse (face-to-face) primarily from Hays and Caldwell Counties.

Adolescence is the time to get to know yourself in and out of a relationship, but if all you see on screen and in books is red flags, how are you supposed to know what’s healthy or unhealthy?

There has been a trend of problematic behaviors being romanticized in shows for teens.

The relationships may not be abusive, but we see problematic behaviors like being controlling or intense jealousy being romanticized. The problem with that is we become desensitized or normalize these behaviors.

Let us take Euphoria as an example. It takes problematic behavior like substance abuse and dating violence and makes it seem like that is the norm. Euphoria shows the consequences of these behaviors, but it lacks a counterbalance of healthy behaviors, how to cope with, and have constructive conversations about these themes.

If you are watching shows with heavy themes of problematic behavior, and you begin to see your own life and relationships reflected, talk to someone about it.

Check in with yourself about whether you feel safe and happy. To learn more about “red flags” in dating and relationships, head to stopthehurt.org.

If you are experiencing dating violence, please call our HELPLine 24/7 at 512-396-4357. HCWC’s Counseling & Resource Center has a counselor specifically focused on Dating Violence and our Prevention Educators are available to presentations and education about dating violence.