Slapping
What it is
A slap isn't an accident. It's a deliberate act of physical violence that crosses a line that doesn't get unblurred afterwards. After the first one, the odds of a second go up.
How it gets justified
“My hand slipped — I didn't mean to.”
A slap doesn't slip. It's a deliberate act. You now know the person in front of you can cross that line. That information matters — don't minimize it.
“You pushed me to the limit.”
Nobody pushes anyone into hitting. The line of physical violence belongs to the person who crossed it. They dysregulated, and instead of holding it, they hit you. That isn't your responsibility.
Related patterns
Something feels off but you can't name it?
An exercise to listen to what the body already knows.