Physical abuse covers a wide range of behaviour, from slapping and shoving to serious assault and strangulation. Many of these acts are criminal offences, including common assault, grievous bodily harm and making threats to kill. Even a single push can signal a pattern that escalates.

Someone experiencing physical abuse may have frequent injuries they explain as accidents, avoid work or social plans without a clear reason, or wear clothing that hides bruises, even in warm weather. These signs are easy to miss, but often point to a bigger pattern.

Physical abuse often follows a pattern. After an assault, a perpetrator may seem guilty and apologise, though this is often about avoiding consequences rather than genuine remorse. They may then blame the survivor, followed by a period of calm before it repeats.

Physical abuse rarely stays the same. Assaults often start small, like a push or grab, but each incident increases the risk of it happening again, more severely. Recognising this early, rather than waiting for it to feel “serious”, can help.