| No matter who you are or what you may have gone | | | | rebuild their life the same way. |
| through in your life, all of us have a sense of self | | | | 2. Embarrassment |
| pride. It may be closer to the surface for some of us | | | | Domestic violence is a very humiliating experience |
| or buried deep for others but we all have it. | | | | which can tax your self-respect to the limit. They |
| Yet that pride can often be a major stumbling block | | | | may have been able to keep what was going on in |
| when it comes to getting or asking for help we truly | | | | their relationship quiet all these year, so the last thing |
| need. It could be for an upcoming test at school, | | | | they want to do is broadcast it to the outside world; |
| moving a heavy piece of furniture or asking for | | | | especially when they consider the matter over and |
| directions because you are trying to find a specific | | | | done with. |
| location. Our pride says don't bother just do it | | | | 3. NYOB |
| yourself. And the result? A failing grade, a strained | | | | That's right it's none of your business. What went on |
| back or driving around lost for hours. | | | | between two consenting adults is nobody's concern. |
| The same goes sometimes for victims of domestic | | | | In their opinion this is exactly what's wrong with the |
| violence who know they need help. True, they may | | | | world today; people sticking their nose where it don't |
| have finally gotten out of the abusive relationship and | | | | belong. Take care of yourself and leave them out of |
| for that they are to be highly commended. But there | | | | it. |
| is also a refusal on their part to take the next step; | | | | It is vital to let someone who has been a victim of |
| which is getting the help they need to rebuild their | | | | domestic violence know that the assistance is there |
| lives. | | | | and can be invaluable in helping to restore their lives. |
| And a major part of saying no to that help is pride. | | | | Of course there is no way you can force someone |
| This can come in several forms | | | | to accept help they do not want. But the difference |
| 1. They Got It | | | | between accepting help or not is the difference |
| It took them a long time to get out of that | | | | between asking for directions or driving around lost |
| nightmare but they finally did it. From their | | | | for hours. The sooner you ask, the quicker you can |
| perspective it was done with no encouragement or | | | | get where you need to go. And when it comes to |
| assistance from any outside sources; not even the | | | | domestic violence, the sooner you ask for help the |
| immediate family. For them that means if they got | | | | quicker you can start rebuilding your life. |
| out of a terrible situation on their own then they can | | | | |