An adult hurt me: What is physical abuse
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What is physical abuse?
It’s when an adult hurts or causes pain to any part of your body on purpose. It may leave marks, bruises or cause a serious injury.
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What it might look like
It might be hitting you hard with a hand or an object like a belt. It can also be kicking, pushing, choking, burning or throwing things at you.
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It may make you feel…
Scared, sick in the tummy, shaky, worried or feel like curling up in a ball. This is your body telling you that it doesn’t feel safe.
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Physical abuse is NOT ok
All kids have a right to feel safe at home. It’s NEVER ok for someone to physically hurt you.
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It’s NOT your fault
There is nothing you can say or do that makes it OK for someone to hurt you. Abuse can happen to anyone and is always wrong.
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Things you can do
Say “Stop” or “No” if you can and it feels safe to do. Find a safe place away from the person as soon as you can.
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Find someone to talk to
Find somebody you can trust and feel safe with. It might be an older relative or friend, a Kids Helpline counsellor or a school teacher.