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If you are in danger, please call Harbor House at 815-932-5800 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY for the Deaf 1-800-787-3224.

Reasons Victims of Domestic Violence Don’t Seek Help

Reasons Victims of Domestic Violence Don’t Seek Help

  • Feeling too embarrassed
  • Too risky or dangerous for the victim and the victim’s children to escape
  • Fear of retaliation from the abuser
  • Disbelief from friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and others who know the abuser
  • Loss of income, insurance coverage, possessions, relationships, etc. and change in lifestyle
  • Lack of self-confidence and inability to think clearly because of the abuse
  • Lack of financial resources
  • The system has failed them in the past
  • Thinking that the situation may change if the victim changes
  • Hope that the abuser will change