Sanctuary for the Abused
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Protecting Yourself After Abuse
by Jeannette Stingley
When you finally get away from your abuser, it is possible to keep him/her from finding you or ruining your credit. One of the first things you should do if you haven’t already is relocate yourself and your children if you haven’t already. Move across town, across the state, even to another state if you have to. Have your phone number unlisted. There is a small fee for this service in some areas but it is worth it.
Obtain a PO Box to receive your mail at. To prevent him/her from stealing mail and creating accounts in your name, invest in a paper shredder! This is one of the easiest ways to protect you from any kind of identity theft.
There are programs in some states that have what is called an address confidentiality program where victims of crime can receive mail at a confidential address while their actual address is never disclosed.
Create new email accounts and only tell trusted family and friends this new address. Make sure to change passwords to any account online that your abuser may use to track you. It may be hard to avoid sites like FaceBook or online blogging sites. Anything that will give away your identity should be avoided for awhile. You can make anonymous accounts but some places may require you post a picture of yourself. This will make it one step easier for him/her to find you.
Covering Your Internet Tracks - An article that further discusses ways to keep your activities online away from your abuser. This is particularly helpful if you visit sites like this one to find information on leaving and protecting yourself.
For immediate help in making decisions to protect yourself, call any local domestic violence shelter or 1-800-799-SAFE the National Domestic Violence Hotline
SOURCE
Labels: abuse, avoid social networking, covering your tracks, protect, safe, unlisted
Sunday, January 14, 2018
You Are NOT To Blame...
~~Mantra~~
You are not to blame for being abused
You are not the cause of another's abusive behavior
You do not like it or want it
You are an important human being
You are a worthwhile person
You deserve to be treated with respect
You do have power over your own life
You can use your power to take good care of yourself
You can decide for yourself what is best for you
You can make changes in your life if you want to
You are not alone
You can ask others for help
You can ask to be believed
You can ask others for understanding
You deserve to make your own life safe and happy.
