ARE YOU BEING ABUSED?

HELP IS AVAILABLE.
National Domestic
Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TDD).
In Emergencies, dial 911.

Is it impossible to be "GOOD ENOUGH"?

It's not your fault. Your pain is HIS fault, not yours.

No one has the right to touch you, in any way that you object to.

No one has the right to hurt you.

You have the right to tell what is happening.

There IS a way to escape.

The person who is abusing you, will lie to you,
They will tell you that YOU are to blame.
That it is your fault they are hurting you.
That if you behaved better,
kept house better,
were quieter,
cooked better,
were a better wife, daughter, son, friend,
then they would not "have to hurt you"
(maybe they say "punish").
They may even tell you that you really want them to hurt you.
This is a Lie!!!!

A person hurts you because THEY have decided to hurt you.
For whatever sick, twisted, confused, or just plain CRUEL reason...
THEY made a decision to hurt you.
Your pain is THEIR fault, not yours. Real Love is not painful.
NO one, for any reason, has a right to cause you pain.
It's okay to get angry,
but it's NOT okay to hurt someone because of anger.
Alcohol, in itself, is NO EXCUSE...
Being drunk is NO EXCUSE for hurting someone.

The biggest lie that you are told is,
"If you tell anyone.. you will be blamed."
There is someone around you, a friend, a relative, a counselor,
Someone will believe you. Understand that no matter who hurts to you,
husband, parent, friend, or relative,
nothing gives them a right.And, further...

YOU have a right to tell someone
that you object to what is happening to you.
Does someone touch you in ways they should not?
In places that are private?

Only you control your body.
No matter how old or how young you are,
single, married, or somewhere in between;
YOU have the RIGHT TO SAY "NO!"
Little girls at a home or a friend or relative's house, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO.
Teenagers at home or on a date, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO.
Women, married, dating, live-in or whatever, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY NO.

THERE IS A WAY TO ESCAPE
A way to escape your painful, harmful situation....
You need a PLAN
You need a SAFE PLACE
You need a SUPPORT SYSTEM
Your support system can be a local Women's Organization, a School Counselor, a "safe house," family or friends.
You need to find someone who will listen to you and believe you.
In most western cities the Phone Book lists resources for abused women,
often inside the cover or within the first few pages.
Colleges and other schools can refer you to a counselor (even if you are NOT a student there).
The most important thing about a "SAFE PLACE"
is that you cannot be found, or reached by the one who is hurting you!
You may need to leave suddenly, even abandoning possessions.
Planning to escape your abuse can be as simple as looking in the phone book,
or as complex as hiding assets and making travel plans.
The point is to PLAN, so that, the moment you decide "I MUST LEAVE" you are ready.

My friend, it is OKAY to be selfish,
To consider what matters for YOU
To make a decision that puts yourself first
Because YOU ARE WORTH THIS
You are valuable
You are important
You deserve better

Do you have Questions
about MPD?

Comments on this page are welcome, write to Pastor Mark: Mk_Elliott@yahoo.com