Domestic abuse doesn’t just happen in adult relationships. It can happen between young people too, even in their first relationships. Abuse is not always physical – it can take many forms, and sometimes it can be hard to recognise at first.
In a relationship between two young people, domestic abuse might look like:
- Controlling behaviour – deciding who you can see, what you can wear, or what you can post online.
- Emotional pressure – making you feel guilty, worthless, or afraid of upsetting them.
- Isolation – stopping you from spending time with friends or family.
- Digital abuse – constant messaging, demanding passwords, checking your phone, or tracking your location.
- Jealousy and threats – accusing you of cheating, threatening to hurt themselves or you if you don’t do what they want.
- Physical violence – hitting, pushing, or any unwanted physical force.
- Sexual pressure – pressuring you to do things you’re not ready for or don’t feel comfortable with.
Healthy relationships are built on trust, respect, equality, and consent. If someone is making you feel scared, controlled, or unsafe, that’s not love – that’s abuse.