What parents need to know about the dangers of teen dating abuse

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local psychologist is sounding the alarm about a danger many parents don’t even know exists: abusive relationships between teens and young adults.

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Clinical psychologist Stephen Bloomfield shared that what most people refer to as “domestic violence” is more accurately defined by medical professionals: intimate partner violence. Bloomfield explained that this type of abuse can occur in both current and past relationships and is much more common than many people believe.

Dr. Bloomfield identifies several behavioral changes that may signal that a teenager is in an abusive relationship:

• increased impulsivity

• emotional detachment

• Sleeping or eating problem

• Withdrawing from friends or family

These symptoms can be easy to miss; especially because many young people minimize or hide the abuse they experience.

“The problem is, a lot of young people don’t want to say they’re victims,” Bloomfield said. “Some young people put up with harmful behavior because they feel pressure to ‘keep’ their partners.”

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Bloomfield warned that teenagers and young adults could normalize abuse.

“There’s a sad culture where it’s ‘okay’ to get hit or slapped,” Bloomfield said. “It’s not like that.”

How parents can help:

• Ask direct questions about your child’s relationships.

• Maintain an open dialogue so your child feels safe sharing.

• Recognize behavioral changes and take action.

After an attack left her partially paralyzed, Madison Schemitz decided to speak out. She uses her experience to raise awareness about abuse in teenage relationships and shares her story to help others recognize and avoid these dangerous situations.

Bloomfield believes stories like Madison’s are so important.

“Some people can become stronger after trauma,” he said. “But it takes time, support and a complete change in the way they view what is happening to them.”

Schemitz recently visited St. Louis during National Crime Victims Week. He was recognized by the Johns County Sheriff’s Office. She also joined other survivors marching for Trauma Survivors Day, drawing attention to a problem that often remains hidden.