Domestic Violence is not always physical. It can be emotional, verbal, financial, and more. This type of abuse is often the most difficult to spot because it’s hidden behind closed doors. If you or someone you know has been a victim of this type of abuse, there are many ways to get help. What follows are some steps that might be helpful for victims who want to leave their abuser but don’t have any support system in place yet.
Contact a lawyer immediately
As a victim of abuse, you need to understand that it is your legal right to be free from harm and the abuser should not pose a threat against you in any way. If this has been happening to you, contact a domestic violence lawyer immediately who can help you build a case and win your trial. These lawyers are specialized in such cases so they know exactly what needs to be done in order for you to get the justice you deserve. Don’t let the abuser ruin your life anymore—you do have options. If you happen to live in the Queensland area in Australia, someone like a family lawyer in Brisbane will fight for you in court and give you all the support and comfort in these difficult times. Sometimes, just because you can’t fight back physically, it doesn’t mean you can fight back in other ways.
Find A Shelter
Shelters offer temporary housing for people who need protection from an abuser or those who’ve just left an abusive relationship and aren’t ready to go back home yet because they fear retaliation from the abuser. Once there, you can stay for a few days to weeks, depending on your state’s laws and how much time is needed for you to get back on your feet. Many times, the abuser is also barred from going near these shelters or even contacting you in any way.
If you don’t know how to find a shelter, call your local police department and ask for referrals to any nearby shelters. They will also help you file a restraining order to keep the abuser away from you, as well as provide other information that might be essential for keeping yourself safe throughout the legal process.
Many shelters also provide counseling services that can help the victim learn to cope with the abuse. Therapy is vital to the healing process and can help you find closure for what happened to you. Remember, it’s not your fault that someone abused or hurt you so please don’t blame yourself anymore. This person is the one who should be blamed for what happened—not you.
Work On Your Self-Esteem
It’s very common for an abuser to put the victim down in order to maintain control over them, but when you find yourself in this situation, remember that it is completely out of your character and there is no need for you to change who you are or what you believe in. Always remember that you are a strong, independent woman who deserves to be treated with respect. Once the abuser realizes that they can’t control you anymore, they will likely leave on their own accord and never come back. It’s important for victims of domestic violence to learn how to love themselves again.
Speak Up And Make A Difference
Those who have left an abusive relationship should share their stories with other people so they don’t feel alone or ashamed about what has been happening to them. If you have children, be sure to raise them right and teach them what a healthy relationship is. When you speak up about your situation, others will become much more aware of the issue and they’ll start looking for signs that might indicate an abusive relationship in their surroundings. There are millions of people who’ve been through the same thing as you and now they go on living normal and healthy lives.
Seek support from family and friends
If your abuser is constantly isolating you from your loved ones, now is the time to reach out and ask them for help. Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed about what’s been happening because that will only drive your loved ones away from you. Most of the time, the abuser will do everything they can to make sure their victim suffers in silence and feels like there is nobody who cares about them.
Don’t go at it alone. You always have someone to turn to for support and comfort during hard times. It’s crucial that you surround yourself with people who truly care about you and never forget that there is love in your life.
Keep A Journal
If you’re on your own and do not have someone you know who will support you, keeping a journal of some sort where you write down all your thoughts and feelings can be very helpful. Many victims find that writing out their thoughts helps them cope during difficult times. It’s also to keep track of important dates like when the abuser violates the court order of protection or commits another crime, etc. It will help you feel much more empowered knowing that you have proof of what’s been happening and what needs to be done in order for justice to prevail.
A lot of people are experiencing domestic violence, but there is help available. You can find a shelter in your area by contacting law enforcement or looking it up online. Shelters offer temporary housing for those who need protection from an abuser and counseling services to help the victim cope with the abuse. If you have children, be sure to raise them right and teach them what a healthy relationship is like so they don’t grow into abusers themselves one day. Also, when you speak up about your situation others will become more aware of this issue which helps victims get justice if their abusers violate court orders or commit other crimes against them. Remember that there’s love in your life whether it seems like it or not because many people go through similar things as you do on any given day. Setting an example for your kids, seeking support from family and friends, keeping a journal so you have proof of what’s been happening are all very effective ways to cope with domestic violence.