| Safety and Emotional Health |
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The experience of being battered and verbally degraded by partners is usually exhausting and emotionally draining. The process of building a new life takes courage and incredible energy. To conserve your emotional energy and resources and to avoid hard emotional times, you can do some of the following. • If you are feeling down and considering returning to a potentially abusive situation, discuss an alternative plan with someone you trust. • Decide with whom you can talk freely and openly to give you the support you need. • Identify people are supportive to you and reach out to them when you are in need of support. • If you have to communicate with your abuser, determine the safest way to do so. Consider a third party who might be able to help with communication. • I can try to use “I can…” statements and to be assertive with others. • Have positive thoughts about yourself and be assertive with others about your needs. • Read books, articles and poems to help you feel stronger. • Educate yourself about domestic violence. • Plan to attend a victim’s support group to gain support from others. • Plan to attend a victim’s support group or counseling to learn more about yourself and the relationship. • Avoid drinking excessively to numb your feelings. |