If you believe that you, and your children, are in danger leave immediately. Get medical attention from your doctor or a hospital emergency room. Ask the staff to photograph your injuries and keep detailed records in case you decide to take legal action. Contact your family court for information about a civil protection order that does not involve criminal charges or penalties. Part of the abuser's power comes from secrecy.
Victims are often ashamed to let anyone know about intimate family problems.
Go to a friend or neighbor, or call a domestic violence hotline to talk to a counselor. Plan ahead and know what you will do if you are attacked again. Put important papers together marriage license, birth certificates, check books in a place where you can get them quickly. Learn to think independently. Try to plan for the future and set goals for yourself.