Sources of Help for Battered Women

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our heart and we are never, ever the same. {author unknown}

On May 6, 1993, my best friend, Sandy, was found dead in her car, in the garage, an apparent victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. The night before she died, she had called me to tell me that her husband thought she was a "piece of shit" and that he was leaving her. He said she disgusted him. The Coroner ruled it an accidental death. Sandy was a victim of domestic violence throughout her marriage. Each time her husband beat her or abused her in some way, she'd call me, in tears and hysterical. When I would ask her why she continued to stay with him, she used to tell me it was because she loved him and she was convinced things would eventually get better for them. They tried the counseling route, but her husband always changed counselors when his faults would come to the forefront. This page is dedicated to Sandy and the millions of women like her. My only hope is that these links will help someone.... and that the help they find enables them to live a long, happy, healthy, abuse free life.

Links for getting help

HelpLink, Help For Battered Women This site tells you some options you have while:

1. You're still in the relationship

2. Options available when you decide to leave the relationship

3. Actions which do and/or do not require legal assistance.

El Paso Shelter for Battered Women The El Paso Shelter for Battered Women in a nonprofit organization and has been effectively helping women in El Paso since 1977.

Show your abusers face to the world. This site is loaded with the most links for battered women that I found. The author of this page says, "Ladies, you do not have to live in an abusive marriage" and she's absolutely right. The thing I enjoyed most about this site is that the author will post emails to your abuser on this site. The author will also post pictures of your abusers for the whole world to see.

Violence Against Women An article from Ms Magazine, Sep/Oct 1994, from Next Time She'll Be Dead, by Ann Jones.

Violence: It's a Fact Now speaks out against those who "accuse battered women's advocates of exaggerating or misstating statistics on violence against women.

These links are only the beginning. I have many more to add. If you find my page, and you know of other links where these women can get help, please email me so that I might add them to this page. If I can help just one woman, I will be happy.

Do not stand at my grave and weep... I am not there.

I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glint on the snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the autumn rain. When you awake in the morning bush, I am the swift uplifting rush of birds circling in flight. I am the stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep... I am not there.

{author unknown}