Surviving relationship abuse doesn’t just mean getting out of the partnership safely, it also means getting the help you need to heal physically and emotionally from the ordeal. Abuse can take many forms. It can look like physical abuse in the form of hitting, slapping, choking, or sexual assault. Or it can be emotional and look like isolation or gaslighting. Abuse can escalate into more and more extreme forms of violence and can even be deadly. Find support if you are in an abusive relationship, and start making an emergency plan. Additionally, begin considering how to exit the relationship safely. Finally, when you are free from your abuser, find the support you need to heal from wounds, both physical and emotional. Hopefully, you can move on to a more healthy relationship in the future.

Surviving Relationship Abuse: Physical and Emotional

Find Support

Surviving relationship abuse is easier if you can build a support network around yourself. This means finding people that believe in you and who will keep your confidence. Speak to a friend or family member you trust about what is happening in your relationship. They might be able to offer you a safe place to stay, a sympathetic ear, money to help you get away, or connections to support networks for domestic abuse.

Create an Emergency Plan

Another important thing to remember is that things can escalate quickly. Especially if the abuse is already physical. It’s best to have an emergency plan in case things ever get out of control. Decide where the safest place in the house is where you can put a locked door between yourself and your abuser. More importantly, arrange for a safe place outside of your house that you and any children can go to at a moment’s notice if needed.

Exit the Relationship

Surviving relationship abuse is really all about getting away safely and exiting the relationship. Abusers do not stop on their own. Abuse often escalates into more and more extreme forms. The only way to ensure your safety is to get away from your abuser once and for all. If you are in an abusive marriage, begin speaking with an experienced attorney about divorce options. In some cases, proving abuse can impact your divorce timeline and outcome.

Find Help For Healing

Finally, surviving relationship abuse isn’t just about getting away. It’s also about healing and moving on to more healthy relationships. Reach out to a therapist, or consider looking into support networks for survivors of domestic violence. Healing can be both physical and emotional. The wounds that abusers create can last many years, but there is support available. Surviving relationship abuse is no small feat. Whether you are suffering from physical abuse from a partner or emotional abuse, the healing process can take a long time. Abuse is all about control, and unfortunately, abusers don’t stop on their own. They might escalate into more extreme forms of abuse or violence. To ensure that you are safe, you must make a plan to get away from your abuser once and for all. Reach out to a trusted friend or family member, and create an emergency plan. Then, work on exiting the relationship safely and healing from the experience. Hopefully, you can find the support you need to move on to a happier life and a more healthy relationship in the future.