it certainly is. any time one person hits another person it's considered assault which is physical abuse. you may think this is the first time you've been abused but often other types of abuse precede physically striking out. think back on your history with your husband. does he frequently criticize you? call you names? prevent you from seeing friends or family? has he humiliated you in public? blocked your exit from a room? denied that his actions are serious -- or implied that you're just being "oversensitive"? all of these actions are emotionally (and verbally) abusive --and each of them can be a precursor to physical abuse. in addition according to a number of studies once a man has been violent there's a chance he'll become violent again -- maybe even more violent. that's why i highly recommend couples therapy (for you and your husband) and individual therapy (for you). but if you at any time feel unsafe you should leave immediately and notify the authorities. you can also call the national domestic violence hotline for help finding support groups counseling and other resources in your area: 1-800-799-safe (7233).
during an argument last night my husband hit me for the first time. is that physical abuse?