Films for young people: harmful behaviour
There are lots of different ways that a relationship can be unhealthy or toxic.
And it’s not always about bruises and visible scars. Your relationship could still be harmful even if they’ve never laid a finger on you.
If you feel as though someone is hurting you, watch the videos below to find out more about how that might look.
Verbal harm
If someone is using words, insults or threats to make you feel bad about yourself, they’re being verbally abusive.
If someone is shouting & swearing at you, they’re being verbally abusive.
If someone’s aggressive tone of voice makes you feel uncomfortable, they’re being verbally abusive.
Emotional harm
Emotional harm (also known as psychological harm) involves things that make you feel bad or question yourself.
Emotional harm can involve:
Verbal insults or put downs
Threats (towards you or someone you love) to make you behave in a certain way
Saying bad things about friends to isolate you & leave you lonely
Constant texting – checking where you are & who you’re with
Physical harm
Physical harm with a toxic relationship can be directed at you or someone you love.
It includes things like spitting and throwing objects as well as things like hitting, grabbing or using a weapon.
Whether your injuries are minor or more severe, if someone in your household has deliberately injured you, they’ve physically abused you.
Sexual harm
Rape is sexual abuse.
Forcing you to do something sexual that you don’t want to do – either by force or persuasion – is sexual abuse.
“If you loved me you’d do it,” is sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse also includes sexually-orientated verbal insults: slut, slag, etc.
Financial harm
Someone might financially abuse you by stealing something of yours.
They might ask for money all the time and not pay you back. They might destroy your belongings or your home.
Or they might force you into taking out credit cards or loans in your name and then take control of what it’s spent on.