Fuzzy,

I think this might be a simplification of the terms, but I think that people can use others to gain something for themselves or whatever they want to get through the association with another person....When you use someone without hurting them, I would consider that being "USE".

When people use someone & then hurt them in the process, that is what I believe to be "ABUSE". There is a very fine line between the 2 because most of the time when I feel used, I feel hurt that someone would do that to me. I think the hurt with abuse goes deeper than just feeling hurt (or sad) that someone would treat you like that....it would be a deeper hurt like ruining ones reputation or telling lies about them.....then physical abuse is when someone touches you like hitting or pushing or any other inappropriate type of touching.

Hope this can give some ideas on the difference,
Debbie