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Talk About Abuse With A Survivor | The National Domestic Violence Hotline
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Abuse is about<strong> <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/power-and-control/">power and control</a></strong>, meaning there may be a clear imbalance in the relationship where one partner has or ends up with more power and control over the other.</p> <p>Conversations with a survivor about their situation can be hard: they may not want to discuss the abuse they’re experiencing for any number of reasons, including fear, shame, or even concern for their partner who has abusive behavior.</p> <p>If you’ve noticed <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/warning-signs-of-abuse/"><strong>warning signs of abuse</strong></a> affecting someone in your life, your instinct may be to intervene or even “save them” from the relationship, but it’s never that simple.</p> </div> <div class="callout1 -my:2 -xw:4 -mx:a" reveal="1/"> <blockquote class="callout1-wrap -cs:1 -t:4"> <q><p>There are countless reasons <strong><a href="https://www.thehotline.org/support-others/why-people-stay/">why people stay in abusive relationships</a></strong>, and leaving can be an especially dangerous period of time for them.</p> </q> </blockquote> </div> <div class="-xw:4 -contain -mx:a -wysiwyg"><p>Knowing how to have conversations that empower survivors to make their own decisions is one of the most important ways you can help someone in an abusive relationship reach a safer place.</p> </div><div class="-mb:0"> <div class="wrap1 -c:b3 -bump -noimage"> <div class="wrap1-inner -contain"> <div class="header3"> <div class="header3-wrap"> <h2 class="header3-title" reveal="1/">Being here is a great first step.</h2> <p class="iconed2" reveal="1/"> <i class="icon-mates"></i> <span>We're here to support you.</span> </p> </div> </div> <div class="resource1 -noimage"> <h3 class="-mb:1 -xw:4 " reveal="1/">How to support others in your life:</h3> <div class="stream1"> <div class="stream1-entries -gg:1" g1> <div class="stream1-entry" w="24/12//" reveal="1/" aligned> <div class="card2"> <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/resources/talking-about-relationship-abuse/" class="card2-wrap"> <div class="card2-main"> <h3 class="card2-title -t:4">Talking About Relationship Abuse</h3> <p class="card2-icon"><i class="icon-arrow-right"></i></p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="stream1-entry" w="24/12//" reveal="1/" aligned> <div class="card2"> <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/resources/talking-to-teens-about-relationship-abuse/" class="card2-wrap"> <div class="card2-main"> <h3 class="card2-title -t:4">Talking to Teens About Relationship Abuse</h3> <p class="card2-icon"><i class="icon-arrow-right"></i></p> </div> </a> </div> </div> <div class="stream1-entry" w="24/12//" reveal="1/" aligned> <div class="card2"> <a href="https://www.thehotline.org/resources/talking-to-your-coworker/" class="card2-wrap"> <div class="card2-main"> <h3 class="card2-title -t:4">Talking to Your Coworker</h3> <p class="card2-icon"><i class="icon-arrow-right"></i></p> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <footer class="footer1" id="footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="footer1-wrap -contain -cs:1 -t:10"> <div class="footer1-main"> <div class="footer1-block"> <h4 class="footer1-subtitle">Contact</h4> <address>National Domestic Violence Hotline<br /> PO Box 90249<br /> Austin, Texas 78709<br /> Administrative Line: 737-225-3150</address> </div> <div class="footer1-block"> <h4 class="footer1-subtitle">Follow</h4> <div class="socials1"> <ul class="socials1-items" g2> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalDomesticViolenceHotline/" class="icon-facebook" aria-label="Share on Facebook"><span>Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://instagram.com/NDVHofficial/" class="icon-instagram" aria-label="Share on Instagram"><span>Instagram</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/NDVH/" class="icon-twitter-x" aria-label="Share on X"><span>X</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NDVHotline/" class="icon-youtube" aria-label="Share on YouTube"><span>YouTube</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="footer1-block -copys -as:3"> <p>The Hotline<span class="trademark" style="font-size: 25px; vertical-align: -webkit-baseline-middle;">®</span><br /> National Domestic Violence Hotline</p> <p><a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="footer1-fine"> <div class="footer1-half"> <p>This project was supported by Grant Number 90EV0459 from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 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