Are you or someone you know being harmed at home? Or perhaps you are close to the abuser? Domestic Violence (DV) experts expect to see increased rates of DV while isolating at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DV includes stalking, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Women and men are victims, although to date, the majority of victims are female and the majority of abusers are male. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some indicators of DV include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You frequently make excuses for your partner\u2019s behavior to friends and family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You find yourself hiding and withholding information from friends and family so you don\u2019t have to explain or make excuses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You know something is terribly wrong, but you can never quite express what it is, even to yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You start lying to avoid your partner\u2019s put downs and reality twists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You have trouble making simple decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You have lost control over your own finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You have the sense that you used to be a very different person \u2014 more confident, more fun-loving, more relaxed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You wonder if you are a \u201cgood enough\u201d partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You feel hopeless and joyless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 You feel as though you can\u2019t do anything right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 impacts DV victims:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 An abusive partner may feel more justified and escalate their isolation tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Abusive partners may withhold necessary items, such as hand sanitizer or disinfectants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Abusive partners may share misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten survivors, or to prevent them from seeking appropriate medical attention if they have symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Abusive partners may withhold insurance cards, threaten to cancel insurance or prevent survivors from seeking medical attention if they need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Programs that serve survivors may be significantly impacted \u2014 shelters may be full or may even stop intakes altogether. Survivors may also fear entering a shelter because of being in close quarters with groups of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Survivors who are older or have chronic heart or lung conditions may be at increased risk in public places where they would typically get support, like shelters, counseling centers or courthouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Travel restrictions may impact a survivor\u2019s escape or safety plan. It may not be safe for them to use public transportation or to fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting help<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) has been directly supporting victims for decades through its hotline. The hotline is never closed. Call 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) and 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). <\/p>\n\n\n\n See below links for hotlines for specific communities e.g., Transgender people, individuals who are hearing-impaired and Native Americans. During a hotline call, the victim gets help creating a realistic personal safety plan \u2014 anyone who is concerned about their own safety or the safety of someone else can participate in this planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, there is help for the abuser. The Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs (DAIP) in Duluth (see link below) intervenes directly with abusers but also trains others to do so. There is an online training coming up in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responsible communities keep each other safe \u2014 victim and abuser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing in this article is meant to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider. Some info above taken from: <\/p>\n\n\n\n