What is Physical Abuse?
Physical abuse is any physical force that injures you or puts your health in danger. Physical abuse can include shaking, burning, choking, hair-pulling, hitting, slapping, kicking, and any type of harm with a weapon like a knife or a gun. It can also include threats to hurt you, your children, your pets, or family members. Physical abuse can also include restraining you against your will, by tying you up or locking you in a space. Physical abuse in an intimate partner (romantic or sexual) relationship is also called domestic violence.
Physical violence is the most easily recognizable type of abuse because it often leaves a mark. But any kind of unwanted contact is still violence and it often escalates in severity as time goes on. Some examples of physical abuse are:
- Pushing, shoving, biting, spitting, slapping, shaking, punching, scratching, kicking, or holding you down.
- Throwing things at you or in your direction
- Breaking your property, punching holes in the wall, throwing things.
- Interfering with you while you’re driving
- Pushing their hand against your face, covering your mouth and nose, or squeezing your neck so you can’t breathe
- Grabbing your face so you have to look at them
- Using a weapon or threatening to use a weapon
- Not letting you leave by blocking a doorway
- Not letting you call the police
Signs of Physical Abuse
- Bruises, black eyes, welts, lacerations, and rope marks
- Broken bones
- Open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing
- Broken eyeglasses/frames, or any physical signs of being punished or restrained
- Laboratory findings of either an overdose or underdose medications
- Individual’s report being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated
- Vulnerable adult’s sudden change in behavior
- The caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors to see a vulnerable adult alone
Impact of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse can have lasting effects on your physical and mental health. Physical abuse can cause many chronic (long-lasting) health problems, including heart problems, high blood pressure, and digestive problems. Women who are abused are also more likely to develop depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Women who are abused may also misuse alcohol or drugs as a way to cope.