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Understanding Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is a serious issue that can affect individuals at any age, including teenagers. It involves any non-accidental action that results in physical injury or pain. While it can sometimes be hard to define because it may vary from less severe forms, such as pushing, to more severe forms like hitting or causing bodily harm, all forms of physical abuse are unacceptable and can have a profound impact on your well-being and mental health. As a teenager, recognising that what you're experiencing is abuse is an important first step. Abuse might come from adults, such as parents or guardians, or it could be from peers, such as in bullying scenarios at school or in your friendships. Understanding that no one has the right to harm you physically is crucial.

The Real-Life Impact of Physical Abuse

Physical abuse can have long-lasting effects on your life. The immediate consequences, of course, include physical injuries like bruises, cuts, or worse. However, the impact goes deeper, often affecting your emotional and psychological health. You might find yourself feeling scared, alone, or distressed. You may also experience anxiety, depression, or have thoughts about self-harm. In addition to the emotional and psychological impacts, there can be social repercussions. You might withdraw from friends or activities you once enjoyed, or find your performance at school is affected. It's also common for physically abused teens to experience trouble trusting people and establishing healthy relationships in the future.

Strategies for Dealing with Physical Abuse

If you're experiencing physical abuse, it's important to know that there are steps you can take to protect yourself and seek help. Here are some practical strategies:

1. Recognise the Abuse

Admit to yourself that what you're experiencing is not normal or acceptable. Recognising abuse is key to seeking help and stopping it.

2. Find a Safe Environment

If you feel in immediate danger, think about safe places you can go. This might be a friend's house, a relative's home, or a community or youth centre. Your safety is the most important consideration.

3. Talk to Someone You Trust

Find a trusted adult to discuss what you're going through. This might be a teacher, school counsellor, a family member, or a trusted adult. These people can offer support, advise you, and help you take the next steps.

4. Document the Abuse

If possible and safe to do so, keep a record of the abuse. This can include writing down incidents with dates and details, and, if you are injured, taking photographs of your injuries. This documentation can be crucial if you decide to report the abuse to authorities.

5. Seek Professional Help

Professionally trained individuals such as therapists or counsellors can provide the support and strategies you need to cope with what you're going through. They can also help you build your self-esteem and recover from the trauma you've experienced.

6. Speak to the authorities

In cases where the abuse is severe or continuous, support from the police and child protection services at your local council will be essential.  Talking to the police or child protective services can be an option to ensure your safety.

7. Use Resources and Helplines

There are several resources and helplines designed specifically to help people who are being abused. These services can offer advice, provide emergency shelter, and guide you through the process of getting help.

Taking Action and Getting Support

As a teenager facing physical abuse, the feeling of being trapped or helpless is common, but it's important to remember that help is available and you are not alone. Taking action may feel intimidating, but your safety and well-being should always come first. Start by telling someone what's happening. From there, you can begin to take the steps necessary to stop the abuse and start recovering. Even after the abuse stops, the journey of healing both physically and emotionally can take time. Continued support from counsellors, support groups, and positive relationships will be vital as you recover and move forward. Despite the challenges, with the right support and interventions, recovery is possible and you can regain control over your life.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.