It is important for everyone in an abusive situation to have a safety plan in place. A safety plan is a personalized and practical plan to help you stay safe while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, and after you leave the abusive situation. 

It is important that this plan is tailored toward your situation, as it will help you prepare to tell your family and friends, find the proper resources, and learn coping mechanisms. Although some steps may be obvious now, in the face of a crisis it is normal to panic and be unable to think clearly. It is important to have a plan in order to keep yourself protected in an event of an emergency.

The National Domestic Abuse Hotline has an excellent safety plan tool that can be used to personalize a plan for your exact situation and make sure that you are safe.