IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED:
- You are not alone and you are not to blame. You cannot control his violence. There are ways you can make yourself safer:
- Call the police if you have been assaulted. Charging abusive males is a necessary step in reducing physical violence.
- Tell someone, and keep a record of all incidents for evidence.
- Write down the details for yourself as soon as possible after the assault. Keep it where he won't find it.
- Develop a safety plan. Memorize emergency numbers. Keep spare house and car keys handy. Know where you can stay in an emergency.
- Consider ending the relationship as soon as possible. Without intervention, his violence will increase in frequency and severity as time passes.
- Recognize that no one has the right to control you and that it is everyone's human right to live without fear.
WHAT CAN I DO?
- Talk with somebody you trust: a friend or relative, someone from your job or house of worship.
- Put together an "emergency kit" of things you would really need if you had to leave suddenly, such as identification, medicine, keys and money.
- Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (799-7233) to find out about domestic violence shelters and programs in your area.
- Call the police if you are in danger.
- Remember that you are the expert about your own life. Don't let anyone talk you into doing something that's not right for you.
- There is no excuse for domestic violence.
- Build a Personal, Workplace and Internet Safety Plan
If you are in a violent relationship, one of the most important steps you can take is to make a safety plan for your home and the workplace. These plans contain simple but critical steps you can take to increase your safety while you deal with the violence you face in your personal life.
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