How to Leave an Abusive Husband
Women in abusive marriages often have husbands who isolate them from their friends, tell them they are worthless, destroy property, keep unreasonable control over finances, threaten violence or physically injure them. Many women feel there is no hope for escape, but it is possible to leave.
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Instructions
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Document the abusive behavior as it happens. This can help later if you decide to press charges or file for a restraining order. Keep the documentation in a place where your husband can't find it, such as at a trusted friend's house or in a password protected file on the computer. You can also email comments to yourself or save emails of incidents that you send to a friend. Make sure you log out each time.
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Be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Have all your important papers packed and ready to go, as well as, any clothing and toiletries you will need.
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Save enough cash to get you where you need to go. Keep this money and the other items safely hidden or at a friend's house.
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Become financially independent before you leave, if at all possible. It is good to have a bank account in your name only, as well as credit cards. Make sure the statements won't be discovered by your husband.
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Have an escape route planned. Know which way you will leave the house and where you will go. Make arrangements with a family member or a friend. You can also get a list of battered women's shelters by calling the National Domestic Violence Association Hotline at (800) 799-SAFE (7233).
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Do what you can to stay safe until you are able to leave.
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Comments
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He has isolated me for 10 yrs, I have no friends or family, he is extremely abusive towards me and my 3 children, he takes all the money I make, our car and house are in his name (I can't work without a vehicle) and I have 3 kids, so it's financially impossible for me to leave him. I don't want to be on the streets, specially with my kids.
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aichausa
May 04, 2010
I was involved in one of these in another life *nearly 20 yrs ago*. Luckily, I had enough gumption to leave the A-hole where many women don't bother. I was 22. No kids, thankfully, and a "go-for-broke" risk-taker. It took the need for me to grow a pair of what normally belongs to the opposite gender to leave him, but I accomplished the task and never looked back. It takes a combination of intelligence, a risk-taker's mindset, adrenalin, the desire to uphold your entitled freedom and self-confidence. If you're lacking in any area, you could still do it, but it would be more difficult. This "ex" is remarried and still wants to be a glimmer in my life and I won't allow it. He's still that little boy with the same big problems.
