A door slams.

   You’re heart starts racing. The next beating pulse brings a world of unspeakable pain.

   The screaming reverberates in your ears. It doesn’t stop until you feel your head bounce off the cold, rigid concrete floor.

   Currently in the United States, 33% of teens have reported some kind of abuse; with 12% reporting physical abuse.

   That means three out of every 10 teens have either been physically or verbally abused by a peer; this could be a boyfriend/girlfriend or even just a friend or classmate.

   Everyone has heard that yearly A&A lecture about abuse and how to deal with it. Usually you doodle or take a mini nap while this is going on. You’ve never had to deal with this problem and you probably won’t have to… or so you assume.

   Junior Destini Engle had no idea how her boyfriend truly was until fully involved in her relationship.

   “He wasn’t verbally abusive until about a month into our relationship,” said Engle.

   After Engle realized what type of situation she was in, she immediately got out, but this isn’t always the case for most teens.

   Engle advises people in similar situations not to “get caught up in it” and to try and get out of the situation as soon as possible.

   “I had been in a physically abusive relationship for a year,” said junior Rachael Massengill concerning her eighth grade boyfriend.

   He abused her many times throughout the year they were together. “Once while we were in Wal-Mart we were just joking around and he suddenly got really angry and punched me in the back,” said Massengill.

   Massengill still remembers the large bruise she received from that particular encounter. After a year Massengill said “I finally got the guts to be a big girl.” She finally broke up with him.

   Massengill isn’t the only one who stayed in the relationship after being abused.

   Nearly 80% of girls who have been victims of physical abuse in their dating relationships continue to date the abuser.

   “A lot of times, the person being abused feels like if they take it, maybe the abuser will love them or accept them more,” said freshman Allison Smith.

   Senior Dalice Ballou recalls a relationship one of her friends was involved in. Ballou did what many good friends often try to do: help.

   “I told her to get out. Of course she didn’t listen at first, but when you don’t lose patience and are there for them it pays off. They have to see that they have love somewhere,” said Ballou.

   Physical abuse isn’t the only painful form of abuse. Sometimes the attacker can use harsh words to constantly bring down their prey.

   “Mental abuse is beyond more painful that physical abuse,” said Ballou. “You can get to the point where you don’t believe anybody or anything but that other person. It’s almost completely over-powering and no one else can know because it isn’t visible.”

   Many teens often wonder if their friends are in an abusive relationship.

   Some warning signs that this could be the case are physical signs of injury, indecision, emotional outburst, changes in mood or personality, and isolation. (helpguide.org)

   If you find yourself or a friend in any sort of abusive relationship there are plenty of places to turn.

   CHS counselor Karen Collins said that about 50% of the students that come to her are seeking personal help and advice.

   “Teens are often afraid to come for help,” said Mrs. Collins. “They can be afraid that the situation may get worse, but all we are trying to do is help.”

   Mrs. Collins also adds that “counselors never violate confidentiality.”

   “If the abuse is among peers we usually notify parents first,” said Mrs. Collins.

   If a student reports threats and abuse the cases can be sent to the local comprehensive care counselor or even reported to social services in extreme cases.

   “It takes a lot of courage but nobody deserves to be abused,” said Mrs. Collins.

   Other resources available for teens include the national Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) and of course, your parent or guardian.