Physical Safety
Physical safety is about lowering the chance of being physically hurt, whether by accidents, other people, or your own actions; while recognising that some people can’t simply “leave” or control their situation. Similar to emotional safety, it includes both real-world risks and how safe you feel in your own body.
Core ideas of physical safety
- awareness: Noticing people, places, exits, and your own bodily signals (tension, fear, adrenaline).
- boundaries: Knowing what feels too risky for you and being willing to say no, step back, or get help.
- Planning: Having basic “what if…?” ideas for everyday life and for times when things might get tense or dangerous.
If you feel physically unsafe around others
This might be because of threats, intimidation, physical violence, or someone’s unpredictable behaviour.
- Take your feelings seriously. Your body’s “this isn’t right” feeling is a signal, not something to be talked out of.
- Ask: “Can I safely move away right now?” If yes, aim for a more public, well‑lit, or populated space (a neighbour, shop, street, workplace shared area).
- If you are in immediate danger, contacting emergency services is the priority where that is possible and safe to do so.
When you cannot leave easily (because of money, disability, caring responsibilities, immigration status, control, etc.), safety is often about reducing risk and building support rather than dramatic escape:
- Identify safer spaces in your environment (rooms with exits, places with other people, times of day when risk is lower).
- Share what is happening with someone you trust if you can — a friend, family member, colleague, support worker, or health professional.
- Slowly build a “safety net”: people who know a bit of your situation, ways to contact them, and any local services that might help you think through options.
If you don’t feel physically safe with yourself
Sometimes the main danger is from urges to self‑harm, risky behaviour, or neglecting your own basic needs.
- Treat this as a safety issue, not a moral failure. Strong urges to hurt yourself, drive dangerously, drink heavily, or ignore serious health problems are red flags.
- Tell someone plainly if you can: “I don’t feel safe with myself right now,” or “I’m scared I might hurt myself.”
- Make a very simple personal safety plan:
- Warning signs: thoughts, feelings, or situations where risk rises for you.
- Safer responses: people you can contact, things that reliably ground or distract you, places where you’re less likely to act on urges.
- Reducing means: where possible, limit access to things you might use to hurt yourself, and ask for help with this if needed.
Everyday physical safety habits
These are small, practical things that, over time, make harm less likely:
- Moving around: Notice your surroundings, especially when travelling alone. Know who’s nearby, where the exits are, where you could go if you suddenly felt unsafe.
- Communication: Let someone know roughly where you’re going and when you expect to be back, when that’s possible and safe.
- Health basics: Sleep, food, medication, and avoiding driving or operating machinery when very tired or under the influence, all play into physical safety.
- Tech use: Keep your phone reasonably charged; know any emergency numbers or shortcuts your phone offers.
These are not about blaming people when something bad happens, but about giving yourself more options and time to respond if things start to feel wrong.
When you feel trapped
For many people, “just leave” isn’t realistic. What can still be possible is:
- Naming the situation honestly to yourself (“This is not safe, even if I can’t fully change it yet”).
- Looking for even small choices that increase safety by a few percent: one extra supportive person, one safer routine, one boundary you can hold.
- Remembering that your sense of danger is valid; confusion and self‑doubt are common in unsafe situations, especially where there is long‑term control or abuse.
If you’d like, the next step could be a very short “physical safety checklist” you could adapt to your own circumstances, with both “right now” and “longer-term” items.
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