If someone is hurting your mind or your body that’s not ok. Ever.
It doesn’t matter who they are whether it’s your mum, dad, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, grandparent, boyfriend, girlfriend or partner. Whatever relationship you have, you have the right to be safe and nobody has the right to hurt you. It’s also not your fault. If someone is hurting you that is their choice and no matter what they say, you are not to blame.
If someone is saying or doing things that make you feel bad about yourself that’s not ok. If they are calling you names, telling you you’re fat or ugly, telling you you’re stupid or threatening to hurt you or someone else that you care about, that is emotional abuse.
Feelings
Emotional abuse can make you feel lots of things like:
- Frightened
- Tired
- Lonely
- Sad
- Confused
- Angry
- Running away
- Harming yourself
Telling someone
There are lots of places where you can find help and the most important thing is that you tell someone you trust how you’re feeling and what’s happening. Telling doesn’t make you a grass.
The person hurting you understands what they’re doing is wrong. They might threaten you not to tell. They do this because they know that if you tell someone is going to help you and things are going to change. You might think that telling someone might make the situation worse but it’s the only way to change what’s happening.
Although you may care a lot or love the person who is hurting you, they have no right to hurt you and it’s not your fault. You deserve to be safe and happy and that’s why it’s important to tell someone.
Who can help?
- Checkpoint
- Young Person’s Violence Advisor
- Your school nurse
- Your social worker (if you have one)
- Your doctor
If you want to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can call ChildLine. Calls are free and confidential.
