If you are in immediate danger, please get help now by reaching out to 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788

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. Physical abuse can also include restraining you against your will, by tying you up or locking you in a space. Physical abuse can cause many chronic health problems, including heart problems, high blood pressure, and digestive problems. People who are abused are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse disorders as a way to cope.

Childhood Abuse

Childhood abuse is physical, sexual, or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child. Childhood abusers are typically a parent, caregiver, or family friend. Child abuse includes both a purposeful act and a failure to protect the child from harm. A child’s reactions to abuse or neglect can have lifelong implications to their physical and mental health. Child abuse and neglect can have devastating and long-lasting effects on a child and can result in detrimental societal impacts, including high costs for services and increased involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Parents who physically abuse their spouses are more likely than others to physically abuse their children.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences study is a long-running research project that looks into the relationship between childhood trauma and health problems in later life. A strong relationship was seen between the number of traumatic experiences (including physical and sexual abuse in childhood) and connection to cigarette smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, attempted suicide, sexual promiscuity, and early death.

Domestic Violence

Physical abuse by an intimate partner is also called domestic violence. Physical abuse is unacceptable even if it has only happened one time. Most people who have been apart of domestic violence believe that it will never happen again, but abusers usually escalate violence in frequency and intensity over time. Your partner may try to convince you that it will never happen again. Victims whose partners physically abuse them are at a higher risk for serious injury and even death.

It is important to leave a domestic violence situation as soon as you can. There are plenty of people and organizations who can support you leaving safely. It can take months or years to gain the courage to leave a violent situation. We can help and support you while you work up the courage to leave.

Stranger Abuse

Stranger abuse occurs when someone you do not know physically abuses you in any way. Examples of stranger abuse include robbery, human trafficking, racism, kidnapping, assault, stalking, and more. Stranger abuse can have long lasting implications due to the overwhelming fear and paranoia it can create about society. People who have experienced stranger abuse struggle with PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, and more. It is important to get therapeutic help to alleviate the effects of stranger abuse to increase the change of returning to a normal life quickly.

Recommendations

Assessments recommended: DES: Dissociation Experience Scale, ACE: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Sociotropy Autonomy Scale, BDI II: Becks Depression Inventory II,

Counselors recommended: Sarah Merritt, Eliana Valentin, & Carrie Eggart