Real Life Real Faith November Issue | Page 15

PLAN YOUR ESCAPE MICHELLE CUTTINO Independ on, reach out to the various hotlines available to you. These hotlines are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Make the call from outside the home. You do not want your abuser to overhear you, and cause you harm before help has time to arrive. N = Never Give Up. At times, your situation may look bleak, and you may feel like there is no way out. Do not give into that fear. Know that you deserve to be in a relationship with someone who is not abusive, and who will treat you with love and respect. If you are denied assistance the first time you reach out, do not give up. Keep researching alternative options. You have the right to feel safe. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and need help, please make the call. You CAN make a difference in your own life, or the life of someone else! National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or www.thehotline.org National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-HOPE (4673) or www.rainn.org National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: (866) 331-9474 or www.loveisrespect.org Safe Horizon (A haven for domestic violence victims): 800-621-HOPE (4673) or www.safehorizon.org 57