Domestic violence rates in the U.S. have gone down dramatically ever since the Violence Against Women Act was turned into law in 1993. Some reports indicate they’ve fallen by more than 70%.
But that obviously doesn’t mean that domestic violence instance has disappeared. There are still millions of American women who are the victims of domestic violence every year.
Are you one of them? If so, you might not know how to handle the situation. Is it as simple as calling the police and saying, “My husband hit me”?
If you’re confused about what to do next, there are a series of steps you can take to make sure your domestic violence incident is reported the right way. Learn about the steps you should consider taking below.
Begin by Calling 911 to Report Domestic Abuse
The first time you find yourself saying, “My husband hit me,” you might be so stunned that you don’t even think to pick up the phone and call the police. But it’s exactly what you should do when domestic abuse occurs within your relationship.
Call 911 and tell the 911 operator who fields your call everything you can about what happened. Be prepared to tell them:
- Your name and your current location
- Your husband’s name
- What your husband did to you
- What your husband used to hit you
- Whether or not you’re seriously injured
The 911 operator will send police out to your location as fast as they can to see what’s going on. Once they arrive, they’ll question you with regards to the incident and track down your husband to question him, too.
Often times, police will place someone who has been accused of domestic abuse under arrest right away while they investigate further. Read more now about how this process plays out.
Find the Courage to Call a Domestic Abuse Hotline
Once you’ve called 911 and said, “My husband hit me,” there will be a record of the domestic abuse you endured. But you shouldn’t stop there as far as reporting your domestic abuse is concerned.
Domestic abuse victims should also find the courage within themselves to pick up the phone and call a domestic abuse hotline. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, for example, is a great resource for those who are trying to pick up the pieces of their life in the aftermath of a domestic abuse incident.
Make no mistake about it: It is not easy to call a domestic abuse hotline and talk about what happened to you, even though you didn’t do anything wrong. But it’s one of the most important calls you’ll ever make.
You can call a domestic abuse hotline at any time of the day or night. When you do, the person on the other end of the phone will spring into action right away and do whatever they can to help you out. They can:
- Help you identify domestic abuse
- Talk to you about the best ways to keep yourself—and your kids, if you have any—safe
- Assist you in taking legal action against your spouse
They can even make sure that a pet has a safe shelter to go to if you plan on leaving your home and taking your dog or cat with you.
As we mentioned, calling a domestic abuse hotline can be difficult for you to do. But whatever fears you feel will start to disappear once you hear how helpful the person on the other end of the phone is.
Consider Joining a Domestic Abuse Support Group
In most cases, it doesn’t take more than a few weeks for the physical signs of domestic abuse to start to go away. But domestic abuse can leave emotional scars that last for so much longer.
When you’re trying to work your way back from a domestic abuse incident, you’re going to need all the support you can get. It’s why you should consider joining a domestic abuse support group and finding the support you need.
As part of a domestic abuse support group, you’ll be able to share your story with others. You’ll also be able to sit and listen to what other domestic abuse survivors have gone through. This will be hugely helpful as you move through the healing process.
Over time, you’ll find that your emotional scars will start to fade. They won’t ever go away completely, but they won’t hurt you in the same way they once did. Your support group will help you find a strength that you didn’t even know you had.
Rely on Your Closest Friends and Family Members for Support
In the days, weeks, and months following a domestic abuse incident, you might be too embarrassed to talk about it with your closest friends and family members. It’s not easy to sit in front of them and say, “My husband hit me.”
But you should make every effort to talk to them about what happened anyway. They can serve as part of your support system and help you move forward with your life.
You don’t necessarily need to broadcast what happened to you to the world if you don’t feel comfortable doing it. But you should find someone you can trust to talk to about your story. It’ll help you in ways you might not have imagined.
Follow These Steps When You Find Yourself Saying, “My Husband Hit Me”
When you got married, you didn’t think there would ever come a day where you would be saying, “My husband hit me.” It’s part of what makes it so difficult for many women to wrap their heads around domestic abuse.
But it’s important for you to recognize the severity of the situation the first time it happens. It’s also important for you to follow the steps listed here and report the incident.
No man—whether they’re your husband, your boyfriend, your dad, your brother, or your best friend—should ever lay a finger on you. You don’t deserve to be treated that way, and they deserve to face the consequences for their actions if they hit you.
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