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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Women's aid? How to ask for help

85 replies

Satorye · 02/03/2018 14:46

I saw their page has few services that might be of help to me but then again I'm not sure how to ask for help or how to address it.
Basically I'm isolated with my 1.5 year old son, in an abusive relationship far from relatives and friends. I have history of sexual abuse and rape(fairly recent history as well)and let's say it hasn't been easy since I got pregnant unplanned and now I can't see how to get out of this situation, having no job or skills... I suppose no one can fix my life for me but I was wondering if there's some way to navigate out of this, even in baby steps.

OP posts:
moofolk · 19/04/2018 18:53

If he is relying on you for visa, right to remain or whatever and is abusive to you that it on him.

He is not your responsibility.

Safety, strength and solidarity to you.

And flowers. Thanks

Satorye · 19/04/2018 10:09

Thanks folks. I have stayed overnight at emergency accommodation hostel and was suppose to go for housing interview. Meanwhile yesterday when I told my partner we left he immideatly said he's leaving the apartment, he's leaving country saying how he won't get visa like this anyway, bla bla...pathetic. I had to go this far for him to finally leave.

I have returned to the apartment and he told me he left keys inside, which he did not. He even told me they are in the kitchen or the room, which they weren't and then he just said he'll give me the keys. Like wtf? I don't think you forget such things.
So I told him I want him to hand me the keys today in town or else I'm calling the police.

I don't expect him to come to apartment then again I don't take him for granted anymore either so better be safe than sorry. I might put some sort of additional lock rather than changing it all together, in case he made copy of house key.

At least now I know where to go if something happens again..

OP posts:
moofolk · 19/04/2018 09:00

Good luck you are doing the right thing getting out of there.

Badgerthebodger · 19/04/2018 08:41

You need a place, you deserve a place, you matter. Don’t worry about your papers, the first step is to get safe and stay safe. Women’s Aid will help. Well done for leaving Flowers

Satorye · 18/04/2018 16:34

I'm currently waiting at WA to get my place in refuge sorted...it seems they will have to involve child protection and/or social service? The only reason I'm worried is because my papers aren't sorted and I don't want to get in trouble...I'm not sure should have I come now, I feel like they don't have space and we'll have to get back home. I also feel like I'm taking other's women space who might need it more...in the end I don't know, I'm exhausted and feel uninvited anywhere I go.

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Satorye · 18/04/2018 13:52

I'm packing atm while waiting for my LO to wake up from nap, I have called them little ago.
This morning we had an argument and he kept holding me in place so he can hit me after I pulled his blanket and told him to get up and help with DS.
He didn't care DS was watching, he just kept going at me.
I had enough and just leaving the place, even tho not knowing what next, feels enough for me right now. I could not stand a day longer here, no more.
Thanks for reading my posts, I apprecciate

OP posts:
Badgerthebodger · 18/04/2018 13:21

Oh love, I hope they can find a space for you as soon as possible so you don't have to carry on living in this nightmare. Hoping you get the help you need x

Satorye · 18/04/2018 01:03

Thanks @badger. I'm not so great. He's acting worse and worse. I've met with WA twice by now but the woman I spoke to got sick now.
I think I'll call them again tomorrow to ask if they can take us. I can't stand this anymore.

OP posts:
Badgerthebodger · 08/04/2018 10:27

Just checking in to say I hope you are ok and safe Flowers

Satorye · 25/03/2018 20:01

Thanks ♥

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TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 25/03/2018 18:27

It sounds really hard. Look after yourself and have a good rest if you can. Then you can begin the process of getting out of this and living your own life in freedom.

Get well soon Flowers

Satorye · 25/03/2018 03:53

Hey ladies thanks for thoughtfullness and sorry if it might not sound related what I'll write, I'm bit desperate atm...
I'm feeling crushed in every sense.
My son had temperature few days ago and hasn't fully recovered, in the meantime we got sick too.
I don't know why but even as exhausted as I am all the sudden I went to google my partners email nickname and of course I found couple of social media profiles. Some newer, some older, all full of pictures of women that we wouldn't say are horrible because they weren't naked.
I didn't feel to dig deeper, I got the point(again). I confronted him about it and he got defensive and started calling me and the women whores and so on, typical.
We had sex just before I got fever.
I feel bad for giving in, I'm almost blaming myself like an addict that slipped.
I didn't feel I really want to be intimate with him but I felt that since I allowed it I should"go through with it".
I don't love him anymore, if I have. I can't stand his taste when kissing, I feel he's always disconnected and does things roughly and I feel I always had to please him this way or another(this refers to him treating me in general as well).

He hasn't changed and I keep getting traumas revived over and over again by going in circles of having hope that he isn't so bad after all and going through wake up calls every time I confront him about something and it becomes argument and violent.

I cannot take it anymore, I want to leave. I have appointment on Tue with Womens Aid and I hope I'll get better by then and go, I want to ask them if they have space for us in refuge. I'm exhausted, I can't keep going like this.

I just can't go on it's too hard to live like this.

OP posts:
TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 22/03/2018 19:08

Sorry that question mark was supposed to be a full stop!

TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 22/03/2018 19:07

One step at a time. WA may be able advise regarding jobs / benefits. I would suggest also speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau, who will offer confidential advice and signposting whether you're a citizen or not?

Badgerthebodger · 21/03/2018 23:58

I know it’s a weird thing to leave them at nursery. It did feel a bit funny to me the first few times and of course you get a bit worried, but if you choose a really nice nursery you should feel completely comfortable leaving your baby in their care. They are not there to replace you, they are there to provide a caring, fun, playful and safe environment for your very precious small person. The odd time I’ve been to pick my boy up and he’s been upset or ill or whatever, he’s been sat cuddled up on someone’s knee being really well looked after until I could get there. When he’s not ill he doesn’t even wave goodbye to us because he’s straight in playing!

It’s a tough decision but perhaps if you go and visit some places you’ll feel better. There’s always the option of a childminder if you feel your little one would be better with just one person looking after him. It’s also not a decision it sounds like you have to make immediately - why not go and look at a few and get the feel of them, then you want be under pressure to make a decision straight away when you get a job in a few months time.

Satorye · 21/03/2018 15:51

Well to clarify what I meant by being worried about childcare;
I am assuming that I'll have to find a job ASAP and it makes me anxious to think about leaving my son alone in kindergarten/with others all the sudden. He's very cheerful and usually that kid that runs around non-stop in groups, he isn't timid but I'm still afraid he would become too upset if something happens or he suddenly notices I'm nowhere around, I don't think he understands I'll be back :(

OP posts:
TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 21/03/2018 08:04

Happy update: in 3 months I'll have no restrictions for applying for jobs

Oh that is fabulous news Smile

Lovely why would you need to leave your child?

Badgerthebodger · 21/03/2018 07:58

I don’t know if this would help your concerns but I can tell you a bit about how nursery/kindergarten works? My son went for 3 days a week from 6 months old and he absolutely loves it. Most nurseries will have what they call settling in sessions, where you go with your child for a few hours to help get them used to it, gradually building up so you leave them first for an hour, then 2 hours, then a morning etc. My son has just turned one and he never even looks back when we drop him off! He’s all goodbye boring parents I’m off to play Smile I know some people don’t like nursery but it might work for you if you need to find a job. Just some thoughts anyway

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 21/03/2018 07:52

'why does he do that' is really good.
I don't think abusers change v often. They might hide it and change the style of abuse so it better flies under the radar eg financial abuse under the guise of being 'responsible' etc but once the fear is there, it's easy for them to manipulate you.

Why are you worried about kindergarten?
I'm not sure of the link between childcare and a refuge space.

Satorye · 20/03/2018 18:59

Thanks @Badger. I've also found abuser programme but I'm not sure how effective it will be since they don't seem to call back their partner to check how much truth he has told about being abusive-I heard that good programmes keep in touch with partner to follow progress outside of the programme but since this one is confidential it seems like he can say lots of partly-true self-pity stories and get away with it, like most abusers do.

They also say abusers don't change unless you leave and show them you can live on your own and that you might not be back for good...

Well anyway I'll get a call back soon from Women's Aid(called them again today)..hopefully it'll shine some light on all this.
In the next week or two we're making my son's passport, tomorrow I'm going for NIN interview(still need it).

Things are progressing quicker than I thought. Thanks all who's following this.

OP posts:
Satorye · 20/03/2018 12:49

Which makes me worry of another thing...I may have to delay refuge for even a whole year. I can't leave my son to be taken care of by others, I was going to introduce him to kindergarten from age 3, by finding some place where I can be with him for some time as long as it takes until he's ok staying alone there. I really don't want to leave him like that all the sudden, he's too little now.

OP posts:
Badgerthebodger · 20/03/2018 12:45

That is really good news! I’m so pleased for you Smile

Satorye · 20/03/2018 12:42

Happy update: in 3 months I'll have no restrictions for applying for jobs, May announced! I can finally look for a normal job without any complications and fishy business!

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Satorye · 19/03/2018 00:35

Thanks all for replying, I appreciate you're listening, it can be energy consuming to absorb things like this.

I haven't got a call so I'm calling this Mon.
I'm starting to get scared of the future. I have been reading a book"Why does he do that"and I'm sure more than ever he won't change. I was still hoping there is a small chance of getting back together after I would move out with our son and get on my feet but now I feel that won't happen because he seems to be already focusing onhisfuture and treats my son and me like neutral extras in apartment.

Nevertheless I'm scared of him becoming revengful once my son and I go to refuge. I don't want to see him after I leave, at least for quite some time until I feel safe but I'm scared of what he might do if he wants to see our son, which he probably will.

Another thing is that I don't want to expose my son to him if he won't change and there are no abuser programmes here as far I saw(of course I will research this better). My heart breaks but I don't want to risk my son being abused by his dad or becoming like him. I can't even imagine possibility of him taking him away.

I'm ashamed and heartbroken at the same time that I hoped to get back together one day. It feels too much to absorb at once.

OP posts:
TheFootOfMyStairs · 16/03/2018 23:27

You're doing all the right things Satorye.
Women's Aid will help you find space in a refuge for you and your son and the workers (and the other women!) in the refuge will help you learn how to rely on yourself so that, by the time you move out of the refuge, you'll have more confidence in yourself. There might even be a service for ex residents where you can receive ongoing support.

If you can give Women's Aid a couple of days notice of when you intend to leave that will be really helpful for them. It doesn't matter if you can't but it's helpful if you can. You're right, there is/will be a lot to do when you get to the refuge but don't worry about that now. You'll get help and support and you can take your time - the refuge workers will make sure that all your worries are addressed.
It really doesn't matter how anyone else views your family or your home. You're the one living in it so you're the one who actually knows what it's like. Other people's judgements are irrelevant - don't let them stop you from claiming your freedom. And don't let anyone try to make you feel guilty for choosing freedom.
Good luck.

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