If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services when it is safe to do so. If you need someone to talk to, help creating a safety plan, or support finding resources near you, these organizations connect you with trained advocates who understand abuse and can help you take your next step.

Leaving can be an especially dangerous time, and you don’t have to know your exact next steps —or make any decision before you’re ready—to start planning for your safety. A personalized safety plan can help you prepare for different situations, whether you’re staying, planning to leave, or have already left. These resources offer practical guidance to help protect you, your children, pets, and loved ones.

If you need a safe place to stay, you have options. These resources can help you find emergency shelter, transitional housing, and local programs that support survivors. Many can also help with advocacy, legal services, counseling, and the practical challenges of starting over. You don’t have to have everything figured out before asking for help.

Healing takes time, and you do not have to do it alone or on anyone else’s timeline. Surviving abuse was never your whole story, and you do not have to be defined by what happened. These resources can connect you with people who understand what you’ve experienced, along with support, community, and information to help you heal and build a future rooted in safety, peace, and hope.

Sometimes understanding what happened can be the first step toward trusting yourself again. These podcasts and books can help you recognize patterns of abuse, understand trauma and controlling behavior, set boundaries, and make sense of experiences that may have left you questioning yourself. Whether you need validation, practical guidance, or simply a reminder that you’re not alone, these resources are a place to start.

Financial abuse can make it difficult to leave, rebuild, or regain control of your life. These resources can help you understand your rights, recognize financial and litigation abuse, find legal support, and begin rebuilding financial stability and independence. You deserve access to information that helps you make decisions from a place of knowledge and choice.