[Butterfly_Faerie]

If you have been abused or are currently being abused it may seem like you are alone in your pain and there is nowhere to turn for help. To combat the abusive situation in your life, learn how to develop an effective plan for getting the help you need.

Many people feel helpless, over-whelmed, and vulnerable when they have been abused or are currently in an abusive situation. One of the most important ways to combat these feelings and deal effectively with your situation is to make a plan that helps you get away from the abuse and empowers you. By making a realistic plan of how to stop the abuse from happening, getting away from the abusive situation, and getting the treatment you need you can take care of yourself.

<font color=red>Adults Who Are Currently Being Abused </font color=red>

The main goal here is either to get the abuse to stop or get away from the abuser. The following is a list of possible alternatives to stop from being abused.

Locate local domestic violence shelters in your area
Get whatever restraining orders or orders of protection you may need from the police
Make a step-by-step plan of how you can remove yourself from your situation and live somewhere else.
Separate yourself from your spouse by going to a women's shelter or staying with a friend or family member
Document any abuse with the police
Get yourself a legal advocate of the courts who helps to support, defend, and protect people in abusive situations. Know your legal rights. If your husband is forcing you to engage in sexual acts against your will that is considered rape. If your husband is raping you, this can be prosecuted in some states.
Plan a way to achieve financial independence if this is a problem for you, such as finding employment or receiving financial aid from others.
The other important goal here is to seek out counseling services to help alleviate some of the emotional and psychological ramifications of abuse and violence in the home.

Get a medical exam to document any injuries from abuse and receive treatment for injuries.
Seek out individual psychological counseling with a therapist who specializes in areas of abuse.
If children are involved, get a case worker who will help deal with any custody situations and provide services to help children transition to new situations.
Seek out supportive group therapy

<font color=red>Children</font color=red>

Get the child away from the abuser, even if this involves sending the child to live somewhere else with other family members or friends
Get abuse to stop by making police reports or anonymous reports to the state. Reports may need to be made frequently for action to be taken.
Get the child into counseling with a therapist who specializes in working with abused children.
Get the child a medical exam to ensure that child is being treated for any physical injuries and so that abuse is documented.

<font color=red>Adult Survivors Of Childhood Abuse </font color=red>

Seek out individual psychological counseling for the specific problems you are dealing with: substance abuse, panic disorder, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder), depression, self-harming behaviors, etc. (If you are not sure which type of disorder you may be experiencing, read through Associated Disorders and Their Symptoms)
A medication evaluation by a psychiatrist may be important as well if your therapist feels that a combination of therapy and medications would be most effective in treating your symptoms.
Seek out supportive group therapy so that you can share your experiences with those who understand what you are going through as well as learn from others in the group.

<font color=green>Mental Health Help Website:</font color=green> <A target="_blank" HREF=http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=433&cn=2>http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=433&cn=2</A>

<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>

[gloria]

Thanks for the info. I think the problem is, that, many people have a hard time rrecognizing the abuse to begin with

gab

[Butterfly_Faerie]

You are definatly right on that one.

I never thought that what I went through was abuse, until I was told that it was and had to be looked at.


<font color=red>~Sundance~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

<font color=black>Norman Vincent Peale</font color=black>