Healthy Relationships

Women who have trusting, honest, and respectful relationships are healthier. If you have children, being in a healthy relationship is good for them, too. Your children will learn what it means to be in a relationship by watching you.

Relationships won’t always be free of anger or hurt, but you should not feel scared, humiliated, or controlled.

What should I know about abusive relationships?

Abuse can harm you and your baby. It can put you at risk for serious complications, including miscarriage and pre-term labor.

Once your baby is born, the abuse may get worse. The person who is abusing you may abuse your child too.

Abuse can take many forms. It can be:

• physical – your partner hits, pushes, grabs, or slaps you,

• sexual – your partner forces or manipulates you to be intimate when you don’t want to be,

• emotional – your partner calls you names, puts you down, won’t let you have friends, accuses you of things, uses your children to manipulate you, ignores you or

• financial – your partner controls money, won’t let you work, keeps bills and spending a secret.

Help is available

People care about the safety of you and your child. If you feel you are in an unsafe relationship get help immediately.

• If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

• The Washington Violence Against Women Network has information on finding help in your county.

• Call the Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-562-6025.

Here are some options for safety planning, one with lots of tips for you and one that allows you to personalize the plan for your situation.

Also the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence has information on what to expect if you call a program or go to a shelter.

Need help in another language?

There is help available for someone who speaks little or no English. The Peace in the Home Helpline can connect you with the help you need in your language. Call the Peace in the Home Helpline at 1-888-847-7205.