Tag Archives: Healthy Relationships

Tip of the Week: Prevention of Cyberstalking

Tip of the Week: Cyberstalking

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn: so much of our everyday life is viral! Checking and updating our accounts daily has become a normal routine, like brushing our teeth. However, we often forget the dangers that come with our social media followers. When hitting “post” we can forget the dangers of cyberstalking. Your stalker may be a stranger or someone who has an active role in your life. Along with electronic stalking and harassment, cyberstalking can also include identity theft, soliciting for sex, slander, or gathering your personal information to threaten, blackmail, or embarrass you. Cyberstalking is dangerous and can quickly escalate. Many of us have been affected or personally know someone who has. Check out the following tips to keeping yourself safe:

  1. Block any and all suspicious users
  2. Do not add or accept users that you do not know
  3. Do not respond to private messages to anyone you don’t know
  4. When posting, do not share specifics about your location.
  5. Do not share your last name, phone number, or email on online dating sites until you have met in person.

For additional resources visit:

Cyber stalking background with some smooth lines, 3D rendering, a red stop sign

https://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/resources.html

 

Healthy Relationships Week! Tip: What is an Abusive Relationship?

Abusive relationships come in all different shapes and sizes. If your partner doesn’t let you wear certain things or gets upset when you wear certain clothing in public, that is abuse. If your partner gets upset at YOU when other people give you attention you may not have wanted, that is also abuse. Physical violence isn’t the only form of abuse. To find resources or get more information on domestic violence (dating/partner violence), visit http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/sas/dating.html. To contact a 24 hour NOVA Sexual Assault Services coordinator for free confidential support, please call 703.338.0834 or email NOVA.SAS@nvcc.edu.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day NOVA SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES (known as “SAS”) will be visiting the Manassas, Loudoun, Woodbridge, Annandale and Alexandria NOVA Campuses to share information on Healthy Relationships. Stop by our table where you can gather information on HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS and create your own handmade Valentine’s Day Cards for family, friends or that special someone in your life for free!

 

 

Manassas – Thursday, Feb 7th from 10-2 – Howsman Cafeteria
Loudoun – Monday, February 11th from 11-2 – LC Cafe
Alexandria – Tuesday, February 12th from 11-2 – Bisdorf Cafeteria
Woodbridge – Wednesday, February 13th from 10:30 – 1:30 – WAS Café
Annandale – Thursday, February 14th from 11-2 – CA 3rd Floor

Hope to see you there and bring your friends!

 

https://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/sas/dating.html

Tip of the Week: Consent Matters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consent Matters!

Consent is a clear and unambiguous agreement, expressed in mutually understandable words or actions, to engage in a particular activity. In order for sexual activity to be consensual, ALL individuals involved must want and agree to everything that takes place. Silence or no response does NOT equal YES. Consent is unimpaired – only someone who is mentally present and uninfluenced by external factors such as substances can give consent. A person may change his/her mind even after saying “yes” initially. Sexual activity after that point is a form of sexual assault. Just because you have engaged in sexual acts with the individual once before, it does not mean the answer is always an implied yes.

Respect your partner’s answer: NO MEANS NO

To learn more please visit:

http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/resources.html

http://www.kiwiburn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/keep-calm-and-get-consent-6-257×300.png

Tip of the Week: Warning Signs of Dating/Partner Violence

Dating/partner violence is a pattern of behaviors between individuals who are or have been involved in an intimate relationship in which an individual inflicts emotional, financial, psychological, sexual and/or physical harm to his/her partner to assert power and control. Dating/partner violence is abuse within an intimate relationship regardless of marital status and does not depend on whether the couple lives together. It happens in heterosexual and same-sex relationships. Some behaviors within dating/partner violence are considered criminal.

If you or someone you know sees the warning signs in their relationship then remember you are not alone and that you have the option to seek help. You can always reach out to NOVACares by filling out the NOVACares report or by contacting NOVA Sexual Assault Services (SAS) directly at nova.sas@nvcc.edu or 703-338-0834.

http://www.nvcc.edu/novacares/index.html

Below are a list of warning signs
 Explosive temper
 Using physical violence such as choking, pushing or hitting
 Extreme jealousy or insecurity
 Checking emails, cellphones and social media without permission
 Isolation from family and friends
 Controlling partner’s movements or decisions and/or finances
 Coercing or forcing partner to engage in unwanted or nonconsensual sexual acts
 Constantly insulting or putting down partner and/or humiliating partner in public or in front of loved ones
 Making false accusations
 Possessiveness

http://www.isthisabusive.com/…/2013/02/abusivechecklist1.jpg