What is the definition of abuse?
Abuse and its long-term effect on a person are not an easy topic of conversation, neither is it a simple thing to define as abuse can take many different forms. Whilst nearly all of these tend to result in similar symptoms, they can vary both in their duration, severity and frequency.
Like anything else in life people can respond differently to their experiences. Some can appear to move on with their lives seemingly unaffected, for others the symptoms of their abuse, both physical and mental can last for a long time as they struggle to come to terms with it. Other people may bury the memories of their abuse as a form of self-protection and might struggle in later life when these memories and emotions start to resurface.
Physical Abuse
Physical violence can be used to control, humiliate or coerce someone.