Look at your watch and let nine seconds pass.

Did you do it?

In those nine seconds, one woman in America was physically abused.

Every year, four million American women are beaten up, thrown down stairs, pushed out of moving cars, or in some other way physically involved in abusive relationships. And odds are, if they don't get help, it will happen again and again.

Abusive Relationships—Why doesn't the girl leave the relationship?

Just as emotional abuse usually doesn't happen on the first date, neither does physical abuse. More likely, it comes into a relationship later on, when the girl is already feeling she likes the guy. So why don't girls get out of a relationship at the first sign of abuse? Usually because the guy tells her it's her fault she's being hit. Her self-esteem goes down and, as a result, she has an easier time believing all the terrible things the abuser says to her.

A lot of girls who are in an abusive relationship will defend the guys and justify their insults. They'll think, "I deserved that." They'll start lying to their friends about why they have a broken wrist, or a broken nose, or are black and blue all over. They'll say, "I walked into a door. I'm such a klutz," and try to make a joke out of it.

But physical abuse is NEVER EVER a joke.

Abusive Relationships—If you are being physically abused, take these steps NOW: 

Hundreds of thousands of women go into hospital emergency rooms every year because they've been injured from abusive relationships. That is NOT a sign of love. So if you're in a physically abusive relationship, your life depends on getting help and getting out.