“The woman who kept walking into doors.
– How are you?
– Grand.
Ask me.
In the hospital.
Please, ask me.
In the clinic.
In the church.
Ask me ask me ask me. Broken nose, loose teeth, cracked ribs. Ask me.”
[From The Woman Who Walked Into Doors by Roddy Doyle 1996]
I put this up again because Women’s Aid continues its annual #16DaysofAction. #16days
What can you do to help other women? Recognize that isolation is a key part of relationship abuse or #domesticabuse. Many of these women are cut off from their friends and family by their partner. We have talked about loneliness on this page before – a lot. Because it is just so important.
That other mother by herself? Just say hello. Maybe it’s post-natal depression. Maybe it’s a bad day. Maybe it’s worse.
Ask her in the playgroup. Ask her in the coffee morning. Ask her at the school gate. Ask her.
Doctors and nurses are very concerned about all forms of domestic abuse – physical, emotional, verbal, sexual – because, among so many problems, it affects your health. We also know that pregnancy is one of the most dangerous times for new abuse. The risk of severe domestic abuse increases with the presence of children ( 75% of women seeking refuge have children with them).
When might your doc ask you even if you don’t volunteer (or even when you deny) that you might be abused? When you have unexplained injuries, chronic unexplained abdominal pain, chronic unexplained headaches, depression, thoughts of suicide, anxiety and panic disorder, eating disorder, substance use.
Docs who are worried might ask patient questions, like these:
•Do you feel safe in your relationship?
•Have you ever been in a relationship where you were threatened, hurt, or afraid?
•Are your friends/family aware you have been hurt?
•Do you have a safe place to go and the resources you need in an emergency?
If you or someone you know need help: 1800 341 900 (24/7)
or https://www.womensaid.ie/services/helpline.html
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