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Physical Abuse

About Physical Abuse

The government’s generic definition of physical abuse is “physical force or mistreatment of one person by another which might or might not cause physical injury”.

Physical abuse can involve hurting or trying to hurt a partner or family member by hitting, kicking, burning, grabbing, pinching, shoving, slapping, hair-pulling, biting, denying medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use, or using other physical force and can lead to permanent injuries and sometimes death.

1

woman every 5 days is killed by an abusive partner or ex, on average

For a lot of people, when they hear ‘domestic abuse’ their first thought is of physical abuse. This is because physical abuse is the most visible type of abuse. That’s not to say it’s the most damaging to victims, but it certainly can be in some cases in terms of short and long term effects. At HERSANA, we do not believe that there is a hierarchy of abuse. Physical abuse is also not a stand-alone form of abuse, and often perpetrators use it along with other types such as emotional and sexual abuse to control their victims.

Self referrals

If you would like to refer yourself for therapy at HERSANA you can do this through our online self-referral form or you can phone us.

Refer yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

Understandably, experiencing physical abuse from a partner, spouse or family member is very confusing for victims. We know that perpetrators are unlikely physically abusive from the start of the relationship, so the abuse will likely get more frequent – and often more severe – over time.

You may be in a physically abusive relationship if your partner:

  • Damages property when angry (throws objects, punches walls, kicks doors, etc.).

  • Pushes, slaps, bites, kicks or chokes you.

  • Abandons you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place.

  • Scares you by driving recklessly.

  • Uses a weapon to threaten or hurt you.

  • Forces you to leave your home.

  • Prevents you from leaving.

  • Traps you in your home or keeps you from leaving.

  • Prevents you from calling the police or seeking medical attention.

  • Hurts your children.

  • Uses physical force in sexual situations.

This is not an exhaustive list and as we mentioned above, physical abuse is often inflicted upon a person alongside other forms of abuse as a means of control.

Everyone responds differently to physical abuse – so whatever someone feels is a valid response. But, for lots of people, it can have a long-lasting impact on their feelings and wellbeing.

If you have experienced physical abuse of any kind – whether it was recently or a long time ago – HERSANA is here for you. We will listen to you, believe you and create a safe space for you.

We know that it can be hard to approach the topic of abuse with a friend, colleague or family member. It’s important to remember that they may not want to speak to you, or may even react badly to you trying to discuss the situation with them. They also may not recognise what they’re going through as abuse, even if you are sure it is. They may try to play it down or they could defend their partner’s actions. All of these reactions are common from victims of abuse, so whatever you do, make sure to accept your friend, family member or colleague’s reaction and don’t pressure them into talking. Although you may be tempted to try and encourage them to speak or seek professional support, you may have to accept that they are not ready for that step.

If they are ready to talk and confide in you, it’s a good idea to be able to signpost to organisations that can offer professional support as well as offering a listening ear yourself, if you can.

For Black femmes experiencing any form of domestic abuse, including physical abuse, we can offer free and confidential help and advice.

Types of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is a crime. And it can happen to anyone — regardless of age, background, gender identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity. However, statistics show most domestic abuse is carried out by men and experienced by women.

Not all cases of domestic abuse involve violence, cause physical injury or leave visible marks. Domestic abuse can cause severe distress, emotional harm and injuries which can't be seen – all of which can take a long time to recover from. This is why we use the terms ‘violence’ and 'abuse' and treat disclosures and experiences just as seriously.

Domestic abuse can take many different forms, but one thing remains the same: it’s never the victim’s fault.

Click on the options below to learn about some of them.

Psychological/Emotional Abuse
Economic Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Coercive Control
Tech Abuse
Supporting a Survivor

This is not a complete list!

We are working all the time to bring you more information. So, just because something isn't mentioned on this page doesn't mean it's not a form of domestic violence and abuse.

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