Domestic Abuse

Sections within this self help guide

1. Introduction
2. What is domestic abuse?
3. Who is this guide for?
4. How might this guide help me?
5. How common is domestic abuse?
6. Who is likely to be a victim of domestic abuse?
7. Why might I find it difficult to believe that what I am experiencing is domestic abuse?
8. Why don’t people always seek help or support?
9. What sort of thoughts may stop someone seeking help or leaving?
10. What do people think about domestic abuse?
11. Has my own behaviour changed to try and cope with the abuse?
12. What other problems might I have?
13. If my partner or another member of the family/household only does these things occasionally, am I still being abused?
14. If domestic abuse is affecting me, who can I tell?
15. What do people who have experienced abuse say they find helpful?
16. What do people who have experienced abuse say they found unhelpful?
17. What can I do to deal with the abuse?
18. How can I keep myself safe?
19. How can I plan to be safer during a violent incident?
20. How can I plan to be safer when preparing to leave home?
21. Do people manage to stop domestic abuse?
22. Who can I contact if I need help?
23. Useful organisations
24. Useful books
25. References
26. Rate this guide
27. Acknowledgement