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With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, now is a critical time to shine a light on domestic violence and raise public awareness.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) maintains that for every one minute which passes, 20 people in America face this crime at the hands of their romantic partner.

There's no denying the dangerous nature of domestic violence or the fast pace at which it can quickly escalate. Ideally, people in this situation should find a way out. Though sadly, it's often easier said than done.

Despite the complications that many domestic violence victims face when trying to leave, some people still find themselves asking, "well, if she was being abused, why didn't she just get out?"

While staying in a domestic violence situation can be fatal, it's important to understand why leaving isn't always as easy as it sounds.

The harsh reality of trying to escape domestic violence

By the time abusers begin mistreating their victims, they usually take active steps to make it as hard as possible for them to leave.

In many cases, perpetrators of this crime work to isolate their victims so the latter feels as though they have nowhere else to turn. One example of this can be making the victim cut ties with family and friends.

Domestic violence perpetrators may also engage in financial abuse. Sabotaging their victim's employment, forcing them not to work, or cleaning out their bank accounts all fall under the category of tactics employed by abusers.

People hurting their romantic partners remain very much aware that a lack of funds, income, or financial security makes it that much more challenging for them to escape.

Difficult but necessary

The longer one stays in a domestic violence situation, the more at risk they become. Sometimes, people facing this abuse have to make multiple attempts to escape.

Studies have shown that once a victim of domestic violence attempts to leave, they can be even more endangered if their abuser learns of their intentions.

It's for this reason that anyone planning to leave a situation like this should keep their plans under wraps. This means not ever telling their abusers they're planning to or going to leave.

People with loved ones facing domestic violence should likewise do their best to let that person know they care.

If a loved one suffering from abuse reaches out at any point for help, letting them know they have a safety net and support system can determine the difference between them getting out or enduring a lifetime of domestic violence.