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Domestic Violence and Abuse - HelpGuide.org

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Are you or someone you care about in an abusive relationship? Learn about domestic abuse, including the more subtle signs.

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Home | The National Domestic Violence Hotline

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National Domestic Violence Hotline is available to help victims and survivors of domestic violence. Get help for your relationship abuse today

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Physical Abuse basically involves a person using physical force against you, which causes, or could cause, you harm.

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Physical abuse can involve any of the following violent acts:
scratching or biting
pushing or shoving
slapping
kicking
choking or strangling
throwing things
force feeding or denying you food
using weapons or objects that could hurt you
physically restraining you (such as pinning you against a wall, floor, bed, etc.)
reckless driving
other acts that hurt or threaten you.

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Unmasking the abuser | Dina McMillan | TEDxCanberra

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Women are the predominant victims of violence at the hands of men they know. Dina McMillan teaches women how to identify the signs of potential violence before it happens. Dr Dina McMillan is a social psychologist with a Master's degree and PhD from Stanford University in California.

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How it starts

Many survivors of physical abuse say that the violence started with just a slap or a push, but then became more intense over time.

Blaming you

An abuser will often blame someone else, such as the victim, for saying or doing something that ‘caused’ their violent behaviour. Or they might say their behaviour was a result of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or feeling stressed or frustrated.

Telling you they’re sorry

It’s also quite common for the abuser to feel remorse and to apologise after an assault. They may beg for forgiveness and promise they’ll never do it again. They will quite often sincerely regret what they’ve done, which makes it more difficult for the victim of the assault to leave the relationship.

What you need to remember:

Their violent behaviour is always their responsibility, not yours.
Abuse is never okay or justifiable.
Whatever they say, their violence is never acceptable.
What should you do if you’ve been physically abused?

If you’ve experienced physical abuse, it’s essential that you seek help. There are a number of services that can offer support. Most importantly, if you’re currently fearful or you believe you’re in danger, contact the emergency services (000) immediately.