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REMEMBER: It takes a victim an average of 7 times of leaving and returning to the abusive relationship, before leaving for good. You must get ANGRY (at the way you have been controlled and manipulated) in order to leave for good. You must get beyond your fear and empower yourself.

REMEMBER: The MOST DANGEROUS TIME for a victim is right after leaving the abusive relationship. You must cut all ties with the abuser, change your phone number,and more......you NEED TO HAVE AND FOLLOW A SAFETY PLAN. Learn more about safety plans on these sites.

Why do women stay?
A woman’s reasons for staying are more complicated than many realize. Fleeing from an abusive man is often a question of “Do I want to live?” or “Do I want to die?” Fear coupled with other reasons cause many women to stay until it’s too late. Some of those reasons are:
• She fears the batterer will become more violent if she attempts to leave
• Her family/friends may not support her leaving
• She has mixed emotions
• She doesn’t know where to go once she is gone
“People are finally realizing that [abuse is] not okay, whereas before domestic violence was something you didn’t talk about openly,” says Tower-Perkins, who deals with victims of domestic violence daily. “When you’re in a relationship, there is a fear that if you come forward people aren’t going to believe you.”
When you’re ready to leave
It’s important for women to leave abusive relationships. Over 1,200 women were killed at the hands of their partners in 2000. So, what should you do if you feel you are a victim of relationship violence?
If you’re on a college campus, the first place you should go is the student counseling center. The counseling center will provide you with resources and give you the support you need. It is also important to include your family and friends—they will be your support system.
“When you first see the signs, the extreme jealousy or controlling know that it’s dangerous. You need to tell someone,” says Page, who wishes she had told someone about her relationship. “If you keep it a secret nobody will know when something happens to you. You should never love anybody more than you love yourself. How can you love someone completely and fully if you don’t love yourself completely?”