Sometimes it’s hard to know. A lot of times, people try to cover up the problems in a relationship. They might feel something is wrong, but they’re afraid to talk about it. Maybe they want others to like their partner. Or, they want to believe the relationship is great.

But, here are some signs you can watch for:

• Do you notice any bruises or other marks on this person?  If you do and ask about them, does the person have lame explanations? Like saying “I fell” to explain a black eye?

• Is this person spending almost no time with friends?

• Does this person seem jumpy – easily startled?

• Does the person seem really tired, like she hasn’t been getting enough sleep?

• Did the person used to dress well and now suddenly is wearing really drab gear?

• Is the person always watching the clock, calling her partner or getting calls from her partner, again and again, in a short period of time?

• Did the person quit after-school activities?

Once again, these are just possible signs of an abusive relationship. Some are normal signs of the beginning of a relationship. When people first connect, they often call each other a lot or want to spend all their time together.  So you can watch for these signs – but don’t jump to conclusions without having all the information you need.