Indications are that the coronavirus pandemic is increasing domestic violence [1A].
Arrests for domestic violence rose by 27% in Portland,OR in March. Domestic assault and battery reports rose by 21% in Seattle, WA and 22% in Boston, MA during the same period. The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline has experienced its highest call volume in 20 years.
“Domestic violence is rooted in power and control, and all of us are feeling a loss of power and control right now.”
-Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of National Domestic Violence Hotline [1B]
With stay-at-home orders in place across the country, the isolation victims typically endure has only been heightened. Fear of infection, job and financial losses exacerbate the stress on victims and abusers alike. The fact that gun sales have spiked is not helping the situation [2].
Confined to the same home or apartment with their abusers, victims have little opportunity to call for assistance. Some are resorting to the use of code words at pharmacies in an effort to escape their abusers [3].
With emergency rooms full to overflowing by coronavirus patients, injured victims may be reluctant to seek medical attention. Mental health services, food, and transportation are all at a premium.
Battered women’s shelters are either full or operating at reduced capacity to assure social distancing. In some states, courts are now granting temporary restraining orders remotely.
Neighbors are encouraged to contact police, if they suspect that domestic abuse is occurring. We must all care for one another, especially at this difficult time.
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
Crisis Text Line text HOME to 741741
Dept. of Health and Human Services/Office of Women’s Health (domestic violence resources by state) https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/get-help/state-resources
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[1A and 1B] CNN, “Some cities see jumps in domestic violence during the pandemic” by Casey Tolan, 4/4/20, https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/04/us/domestic-violence-coronavirus-calls-cases-increase-invs/index.html.
[2] New York Times, “About 2 Million Guns Were Sold in the US as Virus Fears Spread” by Keith Collins and David Yaffe-Bellany, 4/1/20, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/01/business/coronavirus-gun-sales.html.
[3] CNN c/o News 7 Boston, “Women are using code words at pharmacies to escape domestic violence during coronavirus lockdown”, 4/6/20, https://whdh.com/news/women-are-using-code-words-at-pharmacies-to-escape-domestic-violence-during-coronavirus-lockdown/.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Hello Anna and a very good article with the pertinent information. I thought the same as the conditions created by the pandemic and the stay at home orders create a perfect environment for the abusers and provide little opportunity for assistance to the victims. This situation has exacerbated many other negative incidents…thank you for always providing such valuable information. Hope you are well. Stay safe and all the best. My greetings from Spain 🇪🇸
Thank you, Francisco. Sadly, abuse is a constant plague of its own. Stay safe and all the best from the US. ❤
You too Anna 💚
Its good to have some numbers. I was speaking casually with a friend just yesterday, opining that such abuse must be increasing and must be considered as a factor in long term planning. When challenged, I could not back up my thought.
excellent information
You can also to domestic abuse through social media, like my self proclaimed whore ex girlfriend. She gets money through having sex by definition that is a whore. Also by definition she is Machiavelna, she actually has one cell phone with all pictures and videio of me. Not other, no, had to be me. And she will send it here there everywhere and then try to get me on the courts of so called “law” would be my guess. Then I concentrate on other things and her machiavilan job goes away. But in the back of my head I know is going to come, and when it comes in the legal way that is. I am prepared.
All I write in the blog it is a bit, not all, a bit analytical. Just in case this bitch that sends me through the phone photos to my phone on a constant basis of what I wrote in the blog.
So you can consider that domestic psychological violence, no?
I just have the fortitude to read-hear-understand the circumstances
then put it away. I know she is playing the system the whole social media world, that´s it. I don´t even see the emails she sends me. So morally I´m good, then just prepare if this idiot bitch is going to say in a criminal court whatever she says…. already happened and I was found not guilty. Even the judge told me that I should go to prison for being a dummy.
Goes both ways females and males(yes there is obviously more cases of males) but if a female want´s to screw with you life, holy shit, you are in the long run to fight that off. Just to be aware and not get paranoid, plan the unexpected for sure but don´t be a constant victim yourself.
Wax on wax off, Karatee kid movie. You turn the switch on then off.
I´m pretty good at that. And can also fuck those people up if they choose to fuck me. (Sorry for the F words)
I agree completely that you have been subjected to psychological torment, Charly. As you say, abuse can be inflicted by both women and men. Under the circumstances, your strength (and restraint) amaze me.
It seems it amazes my own mother quite actually. I just talk with her like nothing is happening. Quite a story I know, but I manage through years of preperation to be able to handle it in my head without going “chiwwwawa!!!!”
Just for the record, women can be very much worst than men with the psychological (not in my case I said I trained my mind for those destructive pshychological games) destroying a person through not only psychological but other avenues.
Again, I agree, Charly. False charges can be enormously destructive. Please, stay safe.
Great information Anna,
I worried about an increase of abuse, child and adult.
A Texas sheriff has asked that neighbors stay alert for abuse, since mandated reporters are not able to..
That is a good point, Mary.
So sad, Anna. I read that alcohol and drug use is way up and so is viewing pornography. Likely sexual abuse is also up. Idle hands…
I am sure you are right, Bill. Not that evil requires much excuse.
VERY difficult to give a ‘like’ for such a topic, is it not, my Dear Anna, except that it addresses a need of the hour so well. Kudos and Thanks for speaking out on this.
…In India, the right wing is using this opportunity to vent violence on the Muslim community.
Terribly sad.
Sadly our world has many who live on the edge of being abusers, who have not sought help because to admit they feel like they may loose control would be an admission of a crime that has not been committed. Stuff these people in a situation that they feel out of control and they will loose control. Abuse is never okay nor should it be explained away but instead it must be avoided before it even happens – anyone out there that is realizing that this “stay at home” thing has brought out feelings and thoughts that you once thought you could control, get out and get help. The only way to end abuse is to address it before it happens, the only way to address it before it happens is to deal with whatever it is that makes you feel there is only one way to deal with your frustration. You know you have felt it before, now you know that it is much worse than you thought. If we have to rescue the abuse victim rather than prevent it from happening we have already lost part of the war.
Well said.
Nice information and a boon for victims.💞💞
Thank you, Rachana. Good to hear from you! I hope you are bearing up under this health crisis. ❤