| On a personal note, to anyone who visits my website...If you are the victim of abuse, PLEASE seek help! There are hundreds of organizations out there willing to help you get away and be safe. And there is NOT ONE REASON to stay and be hurt. If you even think you might be in an abusive relationship, PLEASE leave now. If you would like to contact someone for help please visit: WEAVE, (Women Empowered Against Violence, Inc.); VAWO, (The Violence Against Women Office) or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) If you are the friend or relative of someone whom you suspect is in an abusive relationship, please don't give up hope. The best thing you can do is be a friend, be supportive and encourage them to really look at their situation. This may be hard, and they may not always appreciate it, but sometimes having your friends point these things out is the wake up call that is needed. Please stick with them - they need you more than ever during these difficult times. Don't allow someone you suspect is being abused to become ever more isolated. This is part of the abusers pattern, by cutting off the victims friends, victims feel they have no one to turn to. I am not a psychiatrist or any sort of official person. I'm just speaking from the heart, and out of personal experience. Thanks for listening. Be safe. Susan |
| A serious thing is below. I am 112% serious about everything that I'm saying on this page. I'm not any sort of qualified official or psychiatrist. This is just something that has affected my life and I feel deeply about. SO if you don't want to be serious or you just don't care, or just don't want to know what I'm talking about-- its time to GO BACK. If you do want to know...scroll down. |
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| I debated for a long time before putting this on here. I realize it's not in character with the rest of my site. But because it is important to me, here it is. Sorry if it bothers you... |
| 4 kinds of abuse: Physical- actions which cause physical pain or injury; i.e. kicking, hitting Sexual- unwanted, uncomfortable sexual acts Emotional- actions which cause a loss of self esteem, such as swearing, or name calling Psychological- actions which create fear, such as isolation or threats |
| What victims of Abuse need to know It's not your fault You don't deserve to be abused You can't change someone who is abusive Staying in the relationship won't stop the abuse Over time the abuse only gets worse If you stay make a plan to keep yourself safe when the abuse happens again. |
| Many thanks to PBS for posting these tips, and to my friends for reminding me of them. |