Myths and Facts About Abuse Relationships:
If a Woman is Being Abused She Can Just Leave…
For someone who’s never experienced abuse it may seem like a simple answer but for many living the nightmare there are no easy options.
Imagine you’re home with three kids and a husband who’s abusing you physically and emotionally. You want to leave but you wonder how you can ever safely do that. The bank accounts and credit cards are in his name, he has the key to the safe deposit box with your important documents, including the kids’ birth certificates. You have no family near by but his are down the street. It’s a small town and everyone knows where you are and what you are doing. How can you possibly leave and start a new life with your kids?
This situation is all too real for too many women. Many women feel they just can’t cope alone, others don’t want to raise their kids without a father, still more feel shame using government assistance. The fact is abusers hold a lot of power over the people they claim to love and many women are trapped into situations they feel they can’t escape. There is help but there are no easy answers.
Chrysalis House is here for these women. Last year we took more than 1,300 calls from women in distress. We have outreach programs that can offer help in a totally confidential manner. Women don’t have to leave the home to get help; our trained and compassionate staff can meet women when and where they feel comfortable. We can help them set limits in their relationships. We can help them decide how and when to make the changes that will work for them. Most importantly with can help women put their safety and the safety of their kids first. Together we will set up a plan that will let women take some control over their lives and let them decide what is best for their family.
If you know someone you suspect is being abused there are things you can do as well. Tell her about Chrysalis House Services. Contact us for more information at -(902)679-1155, or our toll-free crisis line at 1-800-264-8682. Give her the information but don’t tell her what to do. Respect her confidentiality. She needs to take the first step towards helping herself by making the decision to get help. The best thing you can do is support her without judging, help her discover the good things about herself and her kids. Let her know you believe her and she’s not alone.
