If your friend were experiencing an unhealthy or abusive relationship, would you recognize the signs? More importantly, would you know how to help?
During my junior year of college, one of my closest friends entered a relationship that, at first, seemed to be heading in the right direction. She had the excitement and glow that often comes with a new relationship, and I remember how happy she was to introduce him to all her friends and family. Before I knew it, he was coming around all the time, and it didn’t take long for him to win us over.
Then, before any of us realized it, everything changed.
She slowly started to become more withdrawn, emotionally drained, and unlike herself. At the time, I didn’t think much of it and assumed she was dealing with the normal stressors of everyday college life. It wasn’t until a difficult situation forced others to step in that I understood what she had really been going through.
For a long time, I wondered how I could have missed the signs. How could someone I cared so deeply about be experiencing an abusive relationship without me recognizing it?
The truth is that I wasn’t ignoring the signs—I just didn’t know what they looked like.
In search of understanding, I turned to Sistercare. Sistercare has helped me find the answers. Through their education and resources, I learned that dating violence doesn’t always begin with one obvious act. Instead, it often starts with subtle behaviors that gradually escalate, making them easy to dismiss until the abuse has already taken hold.
What many people don’t realize is how common dating violence is on college campuses. Since college is a time when you’re figuring out who you are, it’s easy to overlook behaviors that may be early warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. Because these warning signs aren’t always obvious, it’s important to trust your instincts. If something feels off, don’t ignore it.
My experience taught me that I couldn’t fix the situation for my friend, but I could listen, support her, and remind her that she wasn’t alone.
Sistercare has educated and empowered me to be that person for others and serves as a reminder that we are all in this together.
Whether it’s happening to you or to someone you care about, Sistercare is here for you.