Are you a victim of dating violence? Your answers to the following statements can warn you that you are already a victim or at risk of becoming one.

Here are the "red flags" to look for:

• You are afraid of your date

  - You are afraid of making him/her angry and are unable to even disagree with him/her.

-He/she has publicly embarrassed and humiliated you.

The fact that you are afraid of your date indicates that something is wrong with the dating relationship.

• Threats

- Your date threatens to use violence against you or against himself/herself. e.g. "If you leave me, I will kill myself".

Threats should be treated very seriously, as he/she might carry them out.

• Physical attacks

- Your date has held you down, pushed you, or even punched, kicked or threw things at you.

Physical attacks can put you in danger of serious injuries. They can even be fatal.

• Obsession to dominate and control you

  - You cannot go out to meet your friends or family without his/her permission

  - Your date dictates to you on how to appear in public and what to wear.

  - Your date demands that you justify everything that you do.

- You are even forced to choose between him/her, or your family/friends.

This is considered a form of emotional or psychological abuse, and indicates an unhealthy relationship.

• Sexual demands

- Your date forces you to have sex with him/her.

- You are afraid to say 'no' to his/her demand for a sexual act from you.

- You become secretive, ashamed or even hostile to your friends/parents because of your sexual relationship that your date has forced upon you.

Your date does not respect you, but is only interested in gratifying his/her sexual needs. He/She puts you down even after saying that he/she loves you. He/she does not care about the consequences of the sexual act or how you feel about it.