Violence in a relationship may be an unfortunate result of the stress of current social, health and economic conditions. If you have been the victim of domestic violence, you may see an escalation and are starting to come to terms with the fact that you need to end your relationship if you are to stay safe and have the chance at gaining your independence. Uncertain finances can make things even more difficult but in order to start working towards this new path of freedom, you must first leave your partner in New Jersey and begin living on your own again.
This step in your journey may undoubtedly be the most difficult as you strategically create a plan that will enable you to get out of the control of your abuser without putting yourself further into harm’s way. According to helpguide.org, some of the things that you can do to prepare include the following:
- Think about and be familiar with all of the points of exit in your home.
- Decide on a code word that will notify others of when you are in danger so they can call for help. Share this information with trusted friends, family or even your children.
- Be aware of the signs that your abuser is about to snap.
- Keep a small bag with essentials packed and ready to go so when an opportunity presents itself, you are not wasting precious moments packing things you need.
- Memorize the phone numbers and addresses of people who you can go to in an emergency.
- If you contact resources such as a shelter, use a friend’s phone or a pay phone to eliminate the risk of your abuser finding out who you have been speaking to.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.