How To Support A Victim of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is something which none of us wants to think about, but unfortunately, it is a genuine issue right now. When someone you know goes through a domestic abuse experience, you need to make sure that you are supporting them in whatever way you can. Here, we are going to talk you through some of the ways that you can do this and make sure that they are safe. Keep reading if you’d like to find out more.

Start The Conversation

If someone is currently going through domestic abuse or they have done in the past, they might find it very hard to speak about it. If you want to show that you support them, then you might need to be the one who starts the conversation to get them talking about it, in some cases this may be the only way to get them to open up and talk about their experiences. This can be difficult to do at first as it is such as sensitive topic, but it is often for the best. Think about bringing it up in a comfortable and safe environment to make it a little easier for the victim.

Validate Their Feelings

It is crucial that your loved one knows that how they are feeling, in relation to this incident, is normal. They might find that they are angry at the person or that they love them but fear them at the same time. It makes sense that emotions would be mixed up and if you can show the victim that this is normal, then they might feel a little better about it. Never make them feel as though they are dealing with it the wrong way – as long as they are safe, and you are supporting them, that’s all that matters.

Make Them Safe

If your loved one has recently been domestically abused, then you might find that they are not entirely safe from their abuser. This is why this step is very important, and you need to make sure that you do everything that you can to help them. If they have come to you for support, then this is the first step, so you should go ahead with getting further help. Consider getting something put in place that stops the abuser from seeing the victim or living in the same house as them. A family lawyer Newport based firm can help you with this and make everything as safe as possible. You should also make sure to get in contact with the police if you haven’t already done so to get things sorted out as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

When you need to support someone, who has been or is being domestically abused, you must make sure that you handle it with care. They will be feeling a lot of emotions right now, and if you come in too strong, they might end up running back to their abuser. Get a family lawyer on board and put legal measures in place to ensure the victim’s safety.