Teen Dating Violence is more than just arguing or fighting. It includes a long continuum of behaviors that range from verbal and emotional or mental abuse to physical and sexual assault.

Verbal Abuse abuse includes name calling, putting down family and friends, insulting or laughing at beliefs or values, criticizing opinions, using sexually derogatory names, spreading rumors, etc.

Emotional and verbal Abuse often occur together. Emotional or Mental or Psychological Abuse encompasses any verbal or nonverbal forms of communication intended to cause psychological pain. It means manipulating a person's emotions, making the person feel embarrassed, humiliated, worthless or guilty. It also includes controlling partner's behavior, such as telling them what to wear, when and where and with whom to go and how to act, etc. Emotional abuse can be anything like yelling, screaming, constantly criticizing or blaming for things that goes wrong, lying, cheating, threatening to kill oneself, humiliating or poking fun in front of others or in private, jealous behavior.

Physical Abuse is more common these days. This includes aggression such as kicking, hitting, pushing, pinching, shaking, spitting, pulling hair, throwing objects, threatening to use weapons and more like these. Basically it could be anything which may physically harm the partner.

Sexual Abuse, as is understandable by the term itself, is also known as "Date Rape". It is one of the most severe forms of dating violence. It includes forcing unwanted sexual actions, making unwanted sexual advances, molestation and rape.

Teenagers can identify very easily the early signs of teen dating violence and thus can protect themselves from being the victim. You don't have to be scared of raising voice against it. If you think you are in one, solve it right then and there.