Deep Thoughts — Teenagers’ and Young Adults’ Dating/Relationship Abuse! Regarding Kristina’s and Kiefer’s Unhealthy Dating Relationship…

I wrote this article in a previous blog. However, I think it’s important, once again, to talk about Teenagers’ and Young Adults’ Dating/Relationship Abuse!

GH is pointing out that teenagers and young adults today are entering into more abusive relationships. No man has the right to hit a woman or vice versa. You have listened to the news, in the past, about the relationship between Rihanna and Chris Brown in real life.

In the previous blog, I did some research about abusive relationships. People in abusive relationships sometimes mistake abuse for intense feelings of caring or concern. Intense feelings of jealousy can seem flattering at times, but jealousy and possessiveness can be some of the first signs of abuse. Again, please learn the warning signs of unhealthy relationships... Also, watch for these signs in Kiefer’s and Kristina’s relationship.

Warning Signs of Abuse:
Taken from the Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness

The following are questions to ask youself about your relationship. If you are currently in a relationship, these are signs or "red flags" to assist people in identifying a potentially abusive person.

• Do you feel nervous around your partner? (Yes, for Kristina)
  

• Do you have to be careful to control your behavior to avoid their anger? (Yes, for Kristina)


• Do you feel pressured by your partner when it comes to sex? (BIG YES, for Kristina)

• Are you scared of disagreeing with your partner? (Yes, for Kristina)


• Does your partner criticize you, or humiliate you in front of other people? (Yes, for Kristina)


• Is your partner always checking up or questioning you about what you do without your partner? (Yes, for Kristina)


• Does your partner repeatedly and wrongly accuse you of seeing or flirting with other people? (Yes, for Kristina)

• Does your partner tell you that if you changed they wouldn't ‘have’ to abuse you? (Yes for Kristina)
  

• Does your partner's jealousy stop you from seeing friends or family? (Yes, for Kristina with Michael, Ethan, Sam, Sonny and Carly)


• Does your partner make you feel like you are wrong, stupid, crazy or inadequate? (Yes, for Kristina)


• Has your partner ever scared you with violence or threatening behavior? (Yes, for Kristina)

• Does your partner prevent you from going out or doing things you want to do? (Yes Kristina)


• Are you expected to do things to please your partner, rather than to please yourself? (Yes, for Kristina)


• Do you feel that, with your partner, nothing you ever do is good enough? (Yes for Kristina)


• Does your partner say that he/she will kill or hurt you or themselves if you break up with them? (Big YES for Kristina)


• Does your partner make excuses for behavior, for example, by saying it's because of alcohol or drugs, or because he/she can't control his/her temper, or that he/she was "just joking"? (BIG YES, for Kristina)

Kristina does not deserve to be abused nor do you.

In my opinion, if you see more than two red flags mentioned above, please get out of your relationship and move on. You will eventually find someone who cares about you and you both can have a HEALTHY dating relationship.

Also, some of your friends or family-members may see some warning signs that you don’t perceive in your relationship. As an example, you saw this in previous GH scenes when Michael warned Kristina about her relationship with Kiefer. Some of you may not want to hear it from your friends and/or family-members, but be alert!

Create a safety plan or call someone to talk to about your relationship. You may also want to contact the police or a local domestic violence center or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE.

Also, at the end of the General Hospital show (March 12, 2010), Lexi Ainsworth (as Kristina) was telling teenage viewers to get more information on teen dating abuse at LoveIsRespect.org or National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline | 1-866-331-9474

We hope you enjoy life and love without fear!

Thank you,
Leigh-Anne