"Why not just leave?"

"Why don't you just walk out the door?"

 "I'd leave the first time it happened. Why did you put up with it?"

    These are some of the most common remarks made to victims of domestic violence. Nobody seems to understand why victims stay with those who batter them. A short list of ten common reasons for staying is also helpful here.

1. The victims love their batterers. 

2. Victims do not want to leave the person they love; they only want the violence to stop.

3. Victims hope and believe, often for a long time, that the violence will stop.

4. The violence is periodic, and the loving periods between violent episodes entice the victims to stay.

5. Victims may believe they provoke or cause or deserve the violence.

6. Victims are often told by others that they provoke or cause or deserve the violence.

7. They may have left before but were encouraged by friends, family, therapists, the clergy, or the police to "go home" where they belong.

8. Victims may have tried to leave and been beaten for it.

9. Learned helplessness sets in, and victims no longer believe they can escape.

10. Victims are threatened with more violence, or even death, if they try to leave, and, with good reason, they believe these threats.

    This list could actually be a lot longer, and pages of "reasons to stay" could be written. The focus of this section, however, is on how to help victims stay out once they leave their partners. We fully acknowledge that victims of domestic violence are up against walls of opposition and unimaginable difficulties as they try to stay away from their (stalking) abusive partners.
     As many victims may know, leaving is one thing, but staying away is completely different. Staying away is at first a full-time, 24-hour-a-day job. It is also very difficult to do alone. What follows here are five tips that are instrumental in helping victims stay out of their relationships with violent men. Since we know that victims are bombarded with confusion and difficulties during their first weeks and months after escaping, we do not list 75 more things for them to remember. We hope and believe that if the five tips presented here are followed, staying out may not only be possible, it may be a lot easier.

1. Find a Lay Helper 

2. Contact Support 

3. Get a Restraining Order 

4. Develop Crisis Rules 

5. Stay Focused