(Newswire.net — May 31, 2017) — According to World Health Organization, about one third of women have experienced sexual or physical assault by a former husband, live-in boyfriend, or a date.
If you are the victim of domestic violence, you should know that you are not alone. But, most importantly, you should know what to do to get yourself out of the abusive situation and protect yourself and your dependents.
The following 6 action steps should help.
Recognize the signs of abuse
Because sometime domestic abuse can take other forms rather than physical violence, you may not be aware that you are in an abusive relationship. If you answer yes, to one or more of the following question, you may be in an abusive relationship.
- Does your partner find fault in everything you do or say you are worthless?
- Are you not allowed to see any of your friends or even family members?
- Does he stop you from leaving the house?
- Does your partner threaten you or cause you to feel afraid?
It’s not your Fault
Once you have recognized the signs of abuse. It is important that you don’t blame yourself. No one deserves to be abused. Understanding that you are a victim will help you take greater steps to protect yourself.
Hire a domestic violence attorney
Hiring a domestic violence attorney is a major step toward protecting yourself and your children from your abuser. Since domestic violence laws often vary by state, it’d be best to hire an attorney from within.
If you live in San Diego for example, San Diego domestic violence attorneys will help you get out of the abusive relationship safely and have legal protection against your abuser. The attorney will help you get a restraining order and ensure that the order is enforced should the abuser violate it.
Tell someone about it
Apart from getting in touch with a domestic violence attorney, it is important that you tell someone about the abuse. It must be someone you have complete trust in and can therefore confide in without worry of judgment.
Telling someone you trust is a good way to break the silence. You may also need to contact this person in case of an emergency and it helps if they know what is going on.
Seek medical attention
If you are hurt as a result of domestic abuse, seek medical attention immediately. It can be hard to share your struggle with a stranger. But, it may help you in future if you tell the doctor exactly what caused the injuries.
It may also help if you keep a diary and where possible, pictures of your injuries. The evidence may come in handy when you leave and when you decide to get a restraining order.
Have a plan
If you plan to escape your home, it is important to have a protection plan. Where will you go that is safe from your abuser? If you go back home or seek shelter in a place familiar to the abuser, it is most likely that he can find you.
Domestic violence is often followed by a period of relative calm when the abuser feels sorry for his actions. But this calm is false and is often followed by a gradual rise in tensions before another attack. To keep you and your children safe, stay away from your abuser even when he’s calm and sorry.