“He’s been verbally abusive for several years, but this last time he became violent,” 28-year-old Nancy told her True Care Advocate. “Although I changed the locks on the house, he still comes by to see the kids, and I’m concerned for both my safety and theirs.”
Nancy was pregnant by her abusive husband and sought our services because she was undecided about the outcome of her pregnancy. She had learned about True Care from a work colleague, who told her True Care would help her understand her options and provide her with resources.
After receiving information about the Self Help Center, an organization which assists people who have been physically and emotionally abused as well as those who have experienced sexual assault, Nancy received confirmation from True Care’s Nurse that the pregnancy test was positive. The young woman was given an ultrasound where she saw the image of her seven-week-old on the screen. Nancy, already a mother of two, began to cry.
“I know it’s a baby, and I feel guilty about considering abortion, but I really don’t want to have another child with my husband,” she said. “I want to be as free from him as I can.”
Domestic Violence Is Not Rare
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 20 people every minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in America. That amounts to more than 10 million women and men every year. One in four women and one in nine men experience severe physical violence, sexual violence, stalking with injury and/or fear, and other domestic violence situations. In Wyoming, more than 2,500 incidents were reported to law enforcement – experts believe many more went unreported.
Other statistics include:
- In many states, more than 40 percent of all female homicides involve intimate partner violence;
- Women with disabilities have a 40 percent greater risk of intimate partner violence;
- Approximately 63 percent of homeless women have experienced domestic violence as adults;
- Nearly 5 million children are exposed to domestic violence in the home;
- Nearly half of all men and women in the U.S. experience psychological aggression by a spouse or other intimate partner every year.
With such numbers, we are all apt to know someone who has experienced domestic violence … or been exposed to it ourselves. Here is a website with resources that can be of assistance: https://nrcdv.org/
In some domestic violence situations, abuse of people’s technology, such as phones, computers, and cameras, is part of the strategy. A recent article discusses this more in-depth: https://www.reviews.com/blog/safe-connectivity-tips/.
Your Safety is Important
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Remember that your safety, and the safety of your loved ones (children, parents, siblings), is extremely important. No one deserves abuse. Help is available. Locally, contact the Self Help Center at 307-235-2814 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. Both phone lines are managed 24/7.
If you experience domestic violence or sexual assault and think you may be pregnant, True Care is here for you. Our services, including those provided by our nurses, are free. You may be undecided about your pregnancy outcome, just like Nancy was. You may want to parent or make an adoption plan, or you may be planning to abort. We are not here to tell you what choice to make, but we are here to help you, to listen to you, to provide information and education, and help you find further assistance. Contact our Scheduling Line to make your appointment at 307-215-9684.