High Risk
Your responses indicate a high level of risk in your current situation.
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Take immediate action: It's crucial to prioritize your safety above all else. Contact emergency services or a domestic abuse hotline immediately for assistance.
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Seek shelter: If you feel unsafe in your current environment, consider reaching out to local shelters or organizations that provide temporary housing for individuals fleeing abusive situations.
- Create an emergency plan: be prepared to leave at a moment's notice even if you don't feel it's necessary for you to leave immediately right now.
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Build a support network: Surround yourself with supportive individuals who can offer emotional support and practical assistance. Lean on trusted friends, family members, or support groups to help you navigate this challenging time.
What else can you do?
- start documenting: in a safe place, start writing down details about a situation and how it made you feel any time you've felt uncomfortable, unsafe or afraid. (You can use your phone notes, voice record, notebook or other safe place to track these incidents)
- tell someone you trust: share your concerns with someone you trust. You could even mention this quiz as a way to open a conversation. If you don't feel they are receptive, don't give up - try again with someone else.
Why are these important to do?
- documenting: does 2 very important things:
- helps you clearly see the frequency, intensity & impact of your situation because we commonly tend to downplay, take the blame or ignore these
- establishes a pattern of incidents to help support your case in the event there is legal action taken in the future.
- telling someone: helps you feel less alone, allows someone to support you (hint: they're probably already worried about you), and can be an accountability person when you make decisions
- creating an emergency plan: once an abuser senses a change in you, the abuse tends to escalate (often, so does the opposite treatment as they try to convince you to stay - be cautious in trusting this). When the abuse increases, the risk of danger increases. It's better to have a plan in place so you can more quickly get out and seek safety. Knowing you've got what you need (or most of it) when you leave will make it easier to quickly get away from a bad situation when you need to.
There are free downloadable checklists and guides on our website to help you.
Visit Divorce Magazine Canada for articles, resources, and links for abuse support. Learn more about all the different kinds of abuse by listening to the "Hope in Hell" podcast series where you'll hear from support organizations & people who've survived abuse. It is NOT just physical.
Additional Information:
1. National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 1-800-799-7233
Website: thehotline.org
2. ShelterSafe
Phone: 1-855-331-3314
Website: sheltersafe.ca
3. Ending Violence Association of Canada (EVA Canada)
Website: endingviolencecanada.org
4. Canadian Network of Women's Shelters & Transition Houses
Website: endvaw.ca
5. YWCA Canada
Website: ywcacanada.ca
These websites provide valuable information, resources, and contacts for individuals experiencing domestic abuse in Canada. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
Remember!
You deserve to feel safe and respected.
You are enough - just as you are - to deserve that.
You are not alone. We care & are here to help you.