Some injuries, if not treated early on, can cause chronic pain. If you have physical injuries, make an appointment with a GP. Doctors are bound by medical confidentiality, so they cannot give any information to your ex-partner without your consent.

• Try not to put yourself in a vulnerable position or isolate yourself
• Try to avoid places, such as shops, banks, cafes, that you used to frequent when you were together
• Try to change your routine as much as possible.
• If you have regular appointments that your partner knows about (for example, with a counsellor or health professional), try to change the time and/or place of your appointment.
• Try to choose a safe route, or change the route you take or the means of transport you use, when approaching or leaving places you cannot avoid, such as your workplace, the children’s school or your doctor’s surgery.
• Inform your children’s school, nursery or childminder of what has happened and tell them who will be picking them up. Make sure they don’t give the children to anyone else or give your new address or phone number to anyone (you can set up a password with them, and give them copies of any court orders, if you have them).
• Consider telling your employer or others at your place of work, especially if you think your partner might try to contact you there.
• If possible, inform people close to you so that they do not pass on information that could compromise your safety.  (new address, phone number, routes etc)
• Your mobile phone could be ‘tracked’; this is only supposed to happen if you have given permission, but if your partner has had access to your mobile phone, they may have sent a consent message claiming to be from you. If you think this is the case, contact the company providing the tracking service and withdraw your permission; or if you are unsure, change phones.
• Try to avoid using shared credit or debit cards or joint bank accounts: if the statement is sent to your ex-partner, they will see the transactions you have made.
• Make sure your address is not on any court documents. (If you are staying in a shelter, they will advise you on this).
• If you need to phone your abuser (or anyone they are in contact with), make sure your phone number is untraceable by dialling 141 before you ring.
• Talk to your children about the need to keep your address and location confidential.
• Victims of harassment and domestic violence are now allowed to register to vote anonymously so that they are not put at risk and do not lose their right to vote.