PSA: Trigger Warning – Domestic Violence
I read something the other day, and it has really stuck with me. I *think* I saw it on twitter (I have spent FAR too much time on there lately). A cop in – New York, I think? – was asked if they’ve seen any changes. The first thing he said, with no hesitation, was more domestic violence.
Think about that for a minute. About what it must be like for those people who are in a relationship with an abuser. Mental, physical, emotional – it can all be abuse. Now to be stuck at home with them, day in and day out, with absolutely NO idea of when it might end. Imagine the fear, and the torment those people are suffering right now, and with potentially no way out.
There is no “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” in a situation like that, particularly not during a pandemic. There is no way to make plans to leave, to hide things well – not when your abuser is home constantly. Where do you go? Are shelters even TAKING people? How do you sneak away when your nemesis is ALWAYS WATCHING?
This is the kind of thing that so many people are not even thinking about. This is the kind of thing that stands to affect so many lives even more than usual for the foreseeable future. It’s infuriating, and heartbreaking, and I worry for all the children stuck in the middle. It’s another piece of the mental health crisis coming down the pike that we are simply not prepared for. How many generations going forward will this crisis affect? And what will we, as a nation, do to help fix it?
Take care of one another, guys. Remember we’re all in this together, and some may be hurting more than you imagine. So be kind – online and in person.
NOTE: If you or a loved one are suffering from domestic abuse of ANY sort, please try and get help. The link below has information, a phone number, and even a chat line. There is a future beyond where you are now.
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