What is physical abuse?

Physical abuse is when a person hurts or tries to hurt you by hitting, kicking, pulling hair, scratching, biting or using another type of physical force.

Physical violence in a relationship or family is often hidden for many years. Victims of physical abuse may be passive. They cannot complain to anyone and live in an alienated world.

Victims feel a lot of difficult and unpleasant emotions, including:

• Anger (at others or at yourself)
• Fear
• Shame
• Guilt
• Feeling inferior to others