Nearly one-third
of American women report being physically or sexually abused by
a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, according to
a 1998 Commonwealth Fund survey.
Domestic violence
is a systematic pattern of abusive behavior that
may include:
Threats,
intimidation, or throwing/breaking of objects
Name calling,
isolation & control
Slapping,
hitting, or punching
Grabbing,
pushing, kicking, or strangling
Forced
sex
Use of
weapons
Safety Strategies for
Survivors
If
an incident occurs:
Try not
to be trapped in a place where there is no exit or where there
may be weapons
Call 911
and report bruises, injury, and damaged property
Seek medical
attention and have doctor note how you were injured
Seek temporary
safety at a hotel, with friends, or at a shelter
Obtain
a protective order
Overall
strategies:
Create
an exit plan with your children to prepare for the next incident
Pack a
bag with clothes, important papers, money, medications and keys
and keep it somewhere you can get to it if you have to leave
Build a
support system
Get an
escort to and from your car at work
Vary your
daily schedule and routes
Find a
job, start saving money and establishing credit
Bay
Area Turning Point can help you plan and accomplish these goals.
Call our 24 Hour Hotline at (281) 286-2525 to schedule an appointment
with one of our advocates. We can help you plan for a safe and violence-free
future.
