Please note: Entries within this blog may contain references to instances of domestic abuse, dating abuse, sexual assault, abuse or harassment. At all times, Break the Cycle encourages readers to take whatever precautions necessary to protect themselves emotionally and psychologically.  If you would like to speak with an advocate, please contact a 24/7 peer advocate at 866-331-9474  or text “loveis” to 22522.

The Connection Between Teen Dating, Adult Couples and Technology
October 15, 2014
Digital technology continues to eke a permanent place in American lives. How we communicate, who we meet, and how we meet them. How we manage our lives are increasingly dictated by the Internet, social media and cell phones. But how do couples in committed relationships, married or not, use… Read More
Warning Signs of Abuse: Name Calling
October 10, 2014
Everyone jokes around and teases their family and friends. It’s the same in a relationship. However, there’s a line between being playful and rude. What happens when it goes from innocent teasing to insulting?

One of the biggest red flags of an unhealthy or abusive relationship is name calling…. Read More

This Animal is Not Appropriate During DVAM
October 08, 2014
Last week kicked off National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so we find it in bad taste that Maroon 5’s “Animals” video came out days before, glorifying stalker behavior.

At RAINN, they feel that the video is a “dangerous depiction of a stalker’s fantasy.” We tend to agree. From the… Read More

An Overview of Domestic Violence in Nepal
October 03, 2014
In this post, our co-worker Sagar offers a perspective on domestic violence entirely different — and yet all too familiar — from the one we have in America. From cultural norms passed down over time, to legal progress filled with loopholes, it paints a startling and similar picture of datng abuse… Read More
It’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month!
September 30, 2014
Don’t stay silent. It’s time to speak up all month long.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which first began in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the country.

Domestic violence affects… Read More

#WhyIStayed Shows Why Dating Abuse is Complicated
September 10, 2014
One of the biggest misunderstandings about dating abuse is why a victim would remain victimized. Why don’t they leave? Can’t they just break up with their partner? What’s holding them back?

This line of questioning leads to further misconceptions: they must be weak, they must like the abuse or… Read More

Tell CeeLo Green Why Consent Is So Important
September 04, 2014
This past week, Grammy Award-winning musician CeeLo Green pleaded no contest to slipping Ecstasy in a dinner date’s drink in 2012, where he was sentenced to three years of formal probation and community service.

Following his felony court case, the singer sent out some disturbing tweets:

“… Read More

The Impact of Substance Abuse on Unhealthy Relationships
August 11, 2014
Being in an unhealthy or abusive relationship is already a difficult situation. Alcohol and drug abuse only make matters worse. When a partner is under the influence, the risks of abuse on all levels – physical, verbal, emotional, digital and sexual – are all amplified, leading to a deeply… Read More
How to Obtain a Restraining Order Against an Abuser
July 30, 2014
If an abusive relationship has reached a point of danger, it may be time to seek a restraining order, also known as a protection order. This makes it a crime for an abusive partner to come near or contact the victim in any way, including seeing them in person, calling, emailing, texting,… Read More
Warning Signs: Is It Physical Abuse?
July 21, 2014
Dating abuse encompasses many types of abuse, including physical, emotional, verbal, digital and sexual. The warning signs of physical abuse may not be as obvious as someone might think. Because relationships exist on a spectrum, it can be hard to tell when a… Read More
National Youth Advisory Board Retreat 2014
July 15, 2014
Last week, loveisrespect’s awesome National Youth Advisory Board (NYAB) convened in the tranquil, picturesque North Carolina mountainside for their annual retreat. It was inspiring to see the 18 incredible NYAB members who could make it come from all over the country to learn how they can… Read More
The Relationship Between Alcoholism and Dating Abuse
July 14, 2014
“That wasn’t me. I was drunk. That’s not who I am.”

Researchers at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Florida State University found recently that men and women who have been drinking alcohol are at a greater risk of becoming physically and sexually aggressive with their… Read More

How Much Texting is Too Much?
July 07, 2014
How many texts do you think teens send in a day? Five? 20? 1,000?

If you guess 1,000, you’re not that far off. According to a study done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project in 2010, young people between the ages of 12 and 17 send more than 100 texts a day. “It… Read More

What Is Rape?
June 24, 2014
During a presentation at a company event last week, Tmobile CEO John Legere compared the prices of AT&T and Verizon to rape, saying, “these high and might duopolists that are raping you for every penny you have.” Although Legere apologized for the remarks, it brings up the issue of using… Read More
Break the Cycle Goes to the Ballpark with Kids 4 Dodgers
June 20, 2014
As part of the Kids 4 Dodgers program, Break the Cycle had the opportunity to bring 150 young leaders, ages seven to 18, and their families to the Monday, June 16 Los Angeles Dodger game. We brought along the FC Long Beach Girls U9 soccer team, as well as student leaders from University High School… Read More
When Abusive Partners Come to Work
June 16, 2014
If someone is in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, breaking up can be complicated. It’s hard for people to talk about, let alone tell their work. But if your co-worker or employee is in the middle of this kind of breakup, you can help keep them safe by being part of their support system…. Read More
Teen Girls Develop Healthy Relationships App for Break the Cycle
June 11, 2014
This past weekend (June 7th and 8th), over 200 girls on two coasts between the ages of 12 to 17 got to work at the Black Girls CODE Hackathon titled “Love Is Respect.” The two-day hackathon held in Oakland, California and Brooklyn, New York was powered by Black Girls CODE, Break the Cycle and… Read More
Isla Vista and its Relation to Dating Abuse
May 30, 2014
By now, you’ve heard about the tragic events that occurred in Isla Vista, near the University of California Santa Barbara on Friday, May 23. Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old man, went on a killing spree, taking the lives of six people before committing suicide. In the weeks leading up to the… Read More
How to Obtain a Restraining Order Against an Abuser
May 28, 2014
If an abusive relationship has reached a point of danger, it may be time to seek a restraining order, also known as a protection order. This makes it a crime for an abusive partner to come near or contact the victim in any way, including seeing them in person, calling, emailing, texting,… Read More
Do They Want to Spend Time Together or Isolate?
May 21, 2014
It’s romantic and fun, especially at the beginning of a relationship, to hang with each other all the time. Both partners can be so into each other that sometimes they can forget about the other people in their lives. However, in a healthy relationship, this kind of behavior begins to fade a bit… Read More