Why leaving can be difficult

• Card 1

  'Why don't you just leave?' is one of the least useful questions ever asked of someone in a harmful relationship. Leaving is rarely a single decision; it is a process, and it is often the most dangerous moment in the relationship.

• Card 2

  Reasons people stay, all of which make sense

  • Fear of what they will do — to you, children, pets or themselves
  • No money, no housing, no independent income
  • Immigration status, shared debt, or a shared business
  • Love, hope, and the memory of who they were
  • Isolation — nobody left to turn to
  • Shame, or not being believed before
  • Being told, and half-believing, that it is your fault
  • A nervous system shaped to survive the relationship rather than exit it

  Statistically, the period around leaving carries elevated risk. Specialist domestic abuse services can help with safety planning, whether or not you have decided to leave.

Swipe left or right to move between cards