Don't blame yourself: "What the woman who is being abused needs to understand is that no matter what she has been told by the perpetrator, the abuse is not her fault," Boros says. "Nothing she did was asking for the abuse."
Prepare to leave: If possible, call the Houston Area Women's Center, or your local shelter, for advice on how to leave. Leaving can be the most dangerous time for women who are abused, Boros says. "With any domestic violence situation the level of danger escalates right before women try to leave. When they leave, the perpetrators feel they have lost their power and control, and they try to get it back."
If you can, save up money, and establish connections with family and friends to help you through the transition. The Houston Area Women's Center publishes more tips on how to leave an abusive relationship on its website at www.hawc.org.
Leave immediately if you are in danger: If you are in extreme danger, call 911. Place your safety and that of your children before the feelings of the abuser. If you do not feel safe, call the police and leave. You can always return later if you change your mind. See your physician, or go to the emergency room for medical treatment.
UPDATED: 1-08-2005
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Dr. Ann Coker is an associate professor of epidemiology at the UT School of Public Health.
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Dr. Joan Engebretson is a professor at the UT School of Nursing.
See Dr. Engebretson also at:
Men: Pay Attention
to Your Bicycle Seat
Men who bike more than three hours a week should be aware that standard bicycle seats, ridden for extended periods, can cause temporary numbness and, in some, more serious problems, such as erectile dysfunction.
Such problems are caused by compression of an artery and a nerve connected to the penis. New seat designs to minimize compression are now available.
Other preventive measures you can incorporate:
