Your first boyfriend or girlfriend can set the tone for romance throughout your life. It’s important to spend time with someone who accepts you as you are and as you work to become the best you can be. If your partner is draining you or making you question your value, the relationship may be toxic.

Your Partner Makes You Feel Bad About Yourself

If your partner criticizes you constantly or calls you names, it’s time to back away. Anyone can make a mistake, but a boyfriend or girlfriend who berates you or belittles you can chip away at your confidence in yourself until you don’t know who you are anymore. Demeaning behavior and language, whether in public or in private, is unacceptable. In any relationship, it’s important that you have healthy sexual self-esteem. Your partner should support you in trying new activities and even new looks. While you want them to be honest, if you find that they’re unkind in their comments about your looks or behavior, you may be dealing with an abuser.

Your Partner Controls You

Control can come in many forms. Your partner may try to tell you what you can wear, where you can go, and who you can spend time with. If your partner is uncertain or jealous, do your best to reassure them and try to include them in outings if that might help. If they require you to give up friendships or activities that are important to you and want to monopolize your time, it may be time to step back. Remember, the center of your life and focus needs to be you, not the relationship.

You’re the Only One Making Effort

Relationships require flexibility and the willingness to compromise. Two people in a relationship means two people have to be willing to give a little. If you’re the only person working to make time for the relationship, you’ve taken over the position as parent, not partner. At every point in your relationship, there will be times when one of you needs to require a bit more flexibility and caring. If you need your partner to flex and care about your schedule and needs and they don’t, it may be time to step back.

There are countless things that are worse than being single, and being stuck with someone who uses you and treats you badly is definitely one of them. Be ready to step back if you find yourself wishing your partner was more kind. Kindness and caring are yours by right. If you’re not feeling it, the relationship is poisonous. Honor yourself and step back.

You have looked forward to your prom night for your entire high school career. Now that the event is finally almost here, it is a good idea to start thinking about how you can celebrate this momentous occasion safely. Here are four ways to ensure a safe and memorable night for you and your closest friends as you celebrate the end of your high school years.

Smart Dressing

While it is understandable to want to look your best on this magical night, it is equally important that you make smart and practical wardrobe choices. Clothing that is too loose or poorly fitting could cause an accident. In order to prevent tripping and falling, be sure to choose clothes that fit well. This is especially important for girls and their choice of footwear. While those heels may look gorgeous, they have the potential of causing an injury if you are not accustomed to walking in this type of shoe.

Wise Partying

While it may be tempting to hang out with your closest friends doing your own thing after the dance, you should seriously consider attending the official school after-prom event. This controlled setting will ensure that nobody makes a bad decision that they will regret. Most after-prom events also provide transportation for the students, allowing you to relax and have a good time without having to get behind the wheel. If your school does not host an after-prom party, consider asking a trusted parent to host one for you and your friends.

Cautious Driving

The majority of prom mishaps happen when students are not focused on driving. You can help to mitigate this risk by being careful on the roads. Statistics show there are more drunk drivers than usual on prom night. Understand that under no circumstance should you consume even an ounce of alcohol and then get behind the wheel. As an added bonus, staying sober will ensure that your memories of this wonderful night are clear.

Sticking With Friends

Although it may sound cliche, it is true that there is safety in numbers. It is always a good idea to stick with your friends throughout the evening and make sure that everyone has a buddy to look out for them. Similar to this recommendation, it is also important to keep your phone charged all night should you need to get in touch with someone.

Make your prom a night to truly remember by keeping it safe for everyone. These memories will stay with you for a lifetime, so be sure to make them count.

Nobody wants to spend time on relationships that will end in a month. How do you know when things are getting real? Check out these 6 signs that your romantic relationship is really serious.

Its okay to have different likes and interests

The same hobbies and interests are often considered a sign of genuine intimacy between people in love, but this is not always the case. Your understanding that your values and perspectives may not match is much more important. If a loved one is busy with something without you, and you are OK with it, this is a sign of mutual trust. If you tried to introduce your partner to your hobby, and this idea did not work out, but you still respect each other – this is a sign of a mature relationship.

You don’t try to change each other

We all think, react to events, solve problems, and behave in everyday life differently. Another person will inevitably do something in a way different from you, your parents, or a former partner. And it does not mean that you need to change him or her.

Sometimes it is worthwhile to put yourself in the place of your BF or GF in order to understand how important things that seem insignificant to you are to them. The more eccentric interests a partner has, the challenging it will be to date him or her. If you are old enough to use dating apps, you can see these the online dating profile pictures of a person and tell what they are into.

In the so-called Gestalt prayer, written by Fritz Perls, there are the following lines: “I’m not in the world to live up to your expectations, and you aren’t in the world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if we find each other by chance, it’s beautiful.”

You have the same basic values

Personal characteristics and different interests are not a problem, but there are some global issues that can become a stumbling block in a romantic relationship. They can refer to where to live (for example, one loves cities, and the other dreams of a farm life), whether to have children and pets, or how to build relationships in general (perhaps you want a traditional family, and your partner – an open relationship).

For some people, religious, political, or other ideological issues are fundamental. Relations with a person who shares a different ideology can be quite passionate but full of conflicts, and so they are unlikely to last long.

Your conversations aren’t all about you

Stories like “how I spent the day” are rarely fascinating. However, sincere sympathy and interest can transform even the most ordinary things into something amazing. If you can actually listen patiently without getting aggravated and wanting t talk only about YOU this is one of the sure signs that your relationship is serious.

What was it like for your BF or GF growing up? How did she get that littel scar on her eyebrow? What does he think about this or that news? If you are not interested in such things, this is a warning sign. If a partner does not listen to your stories and never asks for your opinion, then you are unlikely to be an important part of his or her life.

You are ready to accept help and afford assistance

Self-sufficient people have the most successful and happy relationships. But sometimes we all need the support of loved ones. For some people, especially those who were brought up on the belief that complaining and crying are shameful, it is difficult to open up and ask for help. However, if you really trust someone, you can do it.

The same goes for helping the other person. If you love them and your relationship is serious, you are ready to go above and beyond for them.

You know their family

If you are familiar with each other’s mother and dad, this is quite a serious sign of a long and serious relationship. Now, there are some people who acquaint parents with ALL their dates. But as a rule, this is a gesture of trust. Also, it’s important not only that you are acquainted with the family of your loved one but also how it was done. The accidental meeting does not count — it should be something more formal, like a dinner, when its serious.

Entering your dating years can be both exciting and scary. Before you head out on a first date, it is important to have a plan. Being prepared will help make sure that the date goes well. But how do you make sure you make a good impression so the person will go out with you again?  Take a look at these three great tips to make sure that your date night gives your date a great impression of you.

Get Creative

When looking to make a good impression on date night, be sure to get creative and think outside of the box. While dinner and movie is a fun activity every now and then, you will impress your date the most if you come up with something a little more inventive. Ideas to consider include volunteering together, hitting up a local farmers market for snacks and a walk around town, or a hike into the woods followed by a picnic.

Clean Up

When taking somebody out for the first time, you want to put your best step forward. The first thing that you need to consider is your physical appearance. Be sure to show up well-groomed and smelling nice in order to make the best first impression. Although you want to smell good, be careful not to overdo it with the cologne or perfume. While it can be a challenge to do it right, cleaning the inside as well as the outside of your car is key to a strong impression. You want your date to feel comfortable while riding in your vehicle. Taking the time to present yourself and your car in the best possible light will set a positive start for the date.

Be Engaging

While it may be tempting to talk about yourself on the date, be sure to make the effort to be engaging and involve your date in the conversation. It is a good idea to brainstorm possible conversation ideas prior to your date so that you do not feel stuck if you run out of things to say. Asking your date open-ended questions is a proven way to get them talking and conversation flowing. Really listen to what your date is saying, and you will be able to discern the best things to talk about. Maintaining good eye contact throughout the date is also a good way to stay engaging.

While dates can be intimidating, if you make sure you’re prepared, you’ll increase your chances of having a good time. You may feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, but do your best to be confident. That can do wonders for a good first impression. Dates are supposed to be fun, so don’t be afraid to let loose and have fun. If you follow the above tips, you’re sure to have a great time. Who knows, you might even get your first kiss!

Around 44 percent of all U.S. adults are currently single, and approximately 40 million adults use internet dating websites. For teens, online dating and long distance relationships are even more so the norm. Now more than ever, it’s important for teenagers and young adults to understand how to stay safe in long distance relationships.

Risks Associated with Online Dating

Since 2013, the proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds using online dating has increased from 10 to 27 percent. However, meeting someone from over the internet for the first time does pose some risks. Around 53 percent of all users lie about their physical appearance on their online dating profile. Over 40 percent of women and over 15 percent of all men say they’ve had a bad experience dating online.

Nearly 30 percent of users dating online say they’ve been harassed or made uncomfortable by how someone contacted them through a dating app or website online. The number of dating scams or confidence fraud cases increased from 2,500 in 2015 to 15,000 in 2016, amounting to $230 million in losses. The average losses in these online dating scams range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Researchers have also determined that around 10 percent of all sex offenders use online dating for meeting victims. Teenagers and young adults like to be independent, but when it comes to meeting someone for the first time, parents and friends should always be aware of your whereabouts. Fortunately, there are red flags to watch out for, and different tips teenagers can rely on to help make long distance relationships safer.

Making the Long Distance Relationship Work

When you’re starting out in a long distance relationship, it’s important to establish boundaries and discuss what each expects and wants out of it. If you’re transitioning from being together to staying together over a long distance, it’s essential to have this discussion before the move. The goal here is to try and avoid confusion or jealousy from ruining things later on.

You’ll want to discuss whether or not the relationship is exclusive and where it could be headed in the near future. Take the time to get to know the person well before committing to anything or getting carried away with ideas of what could be.

Staying Safe When Dating Online

You should keep personal information about your home and family private until you’ve verified their identity and gotten to know them better. You should also be cautious of anyone trying to curry your favor with money or gifts. If someone you’ve never met before is trying to get this information or entice you with gifts, they should be reported to the website’s operators and your parents.

Avoiding Online Dating Scams

There are a number of con artists that are solely interested in victimizing and exploiting people who are looking for love online. Being cautious of compliments given over the internet and keeping real friends close by is how many people can avoid making disastrous decisions while dating online. If not, people and their loved ones can be conned out of their entire savings within a few years’ time. It’s happened before.

In some cases, people have been victimized for close to a decade, being conned out of money by online users, disillusioned by what feels like a meaningful long-distance relationship. These romance cons are not just for the desperate or naive; the average person can full victim to these traps if they don’t have friends or family to counter the ploy. Romance con artists want to isolate their victim so all their time and resources are focused on the online relationship.

Many authorities consider this to be criminal activity classified as advanced fee fraud where the perpetrator cons victims in providing payments upfront for services or goods that never materialize. Despite all the connectivity we do have, it’s clear that many people still feel isolated and yearn for some form of companionship. There are currently international criminal organizations operating through online dating websites attempting to target and exploit these types of people.

Experts say that people with few friends to confide in are the perfect target for the online dating scammers. These people tend to have fewer people and limited networks that can help warn them or vet new profiles. It’s vital to cautious of overly complimentary acquaintances who may be putting on an act to present themselves as the ideal person they believe you’re looking for. With many of the scammers, there’s a proven formula that they will use to manipulate their victim.

The fake profile often has a career related to the military, finance or engineering. Many times they will say they are inconveniently overseas or have a heartfelt story about being a caretaker or a single parent. If meeting in person is not an option, then you should at least be able to video chat on occasion. If they continue to make excuses or put an image up instead of the video, this should be a huge red flag.

Playing it Safe with Long Distance Relationships

Even if they’re likely to disapprove, parents should always be informed about any long distance relationships or potential meets. Anytime your meeting someone online for the first time, it’s important to be cautious. You should also try and verify that the person is who they say they are before agreeing to get into any relationship. Finding mutual friends or running an image search on Google is an easy way to check up on someone online.

For many people, being scammed in a long distance relationship can be devastating. Victims often become isolated and may give up on interacting with others altogether. Long distance relationships can be a great thing when they are done right, and you take the proper precaution. You can go in with an open mind and still protect your financial, emotional and physical welfare.

Getting input from the people you trust and being honest with them about how things are going does help you stay safe in long distance relationships.

References:

Romance On The Internet – Beware The Dating Scammers | Psychic2Tarot.com

10 Ways to Catch out a Catfish | eHarmony.com

You and your high school sweetheart are written in the stars, but there’s one thing that’s standing between you: college. You are going to different schools – perhaps thousands of miles apart. Splitting up would break both of your hearts, but you’re worried about how the distance is going to affect you.

Going off to college doesn’t have to be the end of your high school romance! Here are some tips that will help you maintain your relationship and keep it going strong while you’re both earning your degrees.

Trust Each Other

Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and it’s particularly important when you’re long distance. When you can trust your boyfriend or girlfriend, you can both be happy and confident with your relationship. Remember to behave how you would want your partner to behave. Even innocent flirting could have serious repercussions, so before you act, ask yourself, “Would this betray my other half’s trust?”

Communication is Key

Maintaining your high school relationship when you’re both away at college may be challenging, but remember that you’ll get out of your relationship what you put into it. It’s extremely important to communicate with each other. Even when your class schedules are conflicting and the assignments are piling high, make time to speak with each other on a regular basis. Phone calls, texts, emails, and even snail mail (there’s something so romantic about receiving a hand-written letter from a loved one), are all great ways to stay connected. Plus, it will strengthen your bond and nurture your love.

Space is Important

While communicating on a regular basis is certainly an important part of maintaining your relationship, you also have to give your partner some space. You’re both in college. If you’re constantly texting, calling, Skyping, and emailing each other, you could miss out on the whole college experience. Plus, if you’re the one who is constantly reaching out, your partner may feel like you are being too clingy and could become a major drag.

Remember to give each other some space. If you trust one another, giving each other space shouldn’t be a problem.

Send Care Packages

To a college student, getting a package in the mail is like winning the lottery; when that package comes from a high school sweetheart, it’s like hitting the jackpot! Send a care package every once in a while. Fill a box with one of your old T-shirts, a stuffed animal, books that you have read (and jotted some notes down in the margins), scrapbooks, and some of your other half’s favorite snacks. Nothing says “I’m thinking about you” better than a care package filled with goodies.

Be Open Minded

Things are going to change a lot when you go to college, including your relationship with your other half. Have an open mind and be willing to accept those changes. If you are deadest against them, you’ll only put up roadblocks in your relationship, which could do serious damage. Navigate through those changes together and you’ll be even better and stronger than you were before!

Speak Your Mind

If something is bothering you about your relationship, don’t be afraid to open up and talk about it! If you bottle it up and try to ignore it, it’s only going to fester. It may even make you end up distrusting your partner and ruining your relationship. Be open and honest about how you are feeling. If your other half is truly committed, he or she will listen attentively and make changes to correct whatever is it that’s bothering you.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can happen to anyone who is sexually active, and depending on the disease, they can have different symptoms — or even none at all.  Here are the top 4 most common STDs and how they can be resolved.

Gonorrhea

The symptoms of gonorrhea include burning during urination, a discharge that is white, yellow, or green coming from the penis, and painful or swollen testicles. Women with gonorrhea may experience increased vaginal discharge and bleeding between their menstrual periods.

A doctor can diagnose gonorrhea with a urine test or a swab of the oral area if that is where symptoms are present. Gonorrhea is a curable STD and can be treated by a physician. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important that you be seen by a physician for treatment.

Syphilis

This one used to be quite common, but is less common now due to improved hygiene practices. It is spread via direct contact with a syphilis sore during sexual contact. The primary sores of syphilis are usually found around the genitals. They are round, firm, and painless. Secondary syphilis infection symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, mild fever, and a skin rash.

If left untreated, the outward symptoms of syphilis will fade, but severe damage can be done internally. A blood test is used to diagnose syphilis. Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics prescribed by your physician.

Chlamydia

Most people with chlamydia do not exhibit any symptoms. For those who do have symptoms, they include abnormal vaginal discharge, burning while urinating, penile discharge, and pain and swelling in the testicles.

Like gonorrhea, chlamydia is curable. Chlamydia can be diagnosed through a urine test. Your physician may also take a swab of the vaginal area to diagnose this STD. If you think you have this STD, a doctor will be able to prescribe medication to treat the infection.

Herpes

Herpes is characterized by outbreaks of sores in the oral or genital area. The virus that causes herpes in and around the mouth may or may not have been contracted sexually. However, it is possible to contract genital herpes through contact with someone who has oral herpes. Not everyone who has herpes will have sores and it is possible to spread the virus without the presence of sores.

A doctor will diagnose herpes by the appearance of the sores. Herpes is not curable but is treatable with antiviral medications.

Getting treatment

Even when they think they have an STD, many people — especially teens — will try to hide it and avoid getting treatment. They may not be able to afford it, be worried about “getting in trouble,” or might assume that the disease will resolve on its own.

If you think that you have an STD, don’t put it off. There are many private free STD testing facilities across the US to help you get healthy again. These are advantageous because “at free STD testing centers, whether you book an appointment or not, it’s likely you will be required to sit in a waiting room with other patients who all know why you’re there. Depending on the clinic, your information may not be kept private. Private STD service providers ensure your health information is kept private and confidential…from the time you place and order…to receiving your results.” (Safer STD Testing)

If you are diagnosed with an STD, it is important to contact any previous sexual partners so that they can also get tested. Many times, STDs exhibit no symptoms, but can cause damage to your reproductive organs if left untreated.

Read more on this subject: How to Be Safe and Healthy as a Sexually Active Teen