How to Leave an Abusive Relationship

You Are Worth More Than You Think You Deserve

When you are ready to leave an abusive relationship, there are certain things you must keep in mind. First of all, the ultimate decision is going to be made by YOU. No one else can force you. The desire must come from deep within yourself, and you must gain strength from this, even if it's just spiritual strength. What you need to do is assemble an emergency plan, obtain counseling, and plan your exit. You can't just leave without a plan, because the man will feel as if he has power over you and be confident that you will return to him when you run out of resources. You have to have a plan.

As for as your emergency plan, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (USA) to find out about shelters in your area. The bottom line is that you need somewhere to run to, somewhere to go.

If you have a car, make a spare key and hide it somewhere completely safe. If you do not have a car, make a list of nearby taxi's and stash enough money for the cab ride. Assemble a get-away bag...hide money, your spare key, the taxi numbers, your change of clothing, any important phone n umbers, information, and documents such as your social security cards, marriage certificate (or copies), birth certificate, and identification cards. Hide this somewhere away from home where you can retrieve it later on.