POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 111 Safety Plan continued then save / print / take a photo of it. Or you can start by downloading it and then printing a copy to fill out offline. You can also come back to this tool any time if you’re unable to save / print a copy now. Before creating a safety plan, it can be helpful to consider what “safety” means to you. Safety may look and feel different for everyone. You can start by asking yourself, “What does safety mean to me? Is it a feeling in my body? A place / person / state of mind / gesture?” As you work through the prompts below, it might help you to keep in mind what safety may feel like for you (or how you hope it may feel) and how you can take big or small actions toward achieving that feeling. Notice signs that tell you things are / may be getting unsafe. If things have been challenging at home for a long time, the person(s) who’s being abusive may have specific patterns. Knowing this person’s behaviours, reactions and warning signs — or things that typically lead them to behave a certain way — can be important information to help you know when you might be in danger. Some examples of warning signs that things are getting unsafe might include yelling, physical danger (e.g. hitting, throwing, a fire, etc.), someone using substances in a harmful way, you feeling scared, others around you also feeling unsafe, etc. When you notice these warning signs, it may be time for you to leave the situation and go to a different room, connect with support, leave home, etc. if possible. Consider ways you can create space and take care of yourself in the moment There are ways to distance yourself from someone in your home even if you can’t leave. To create physical space, you can try to move somewhere in your home where you can be alone and close / lock the door, such as a bedroom or a bathroom, or try going outside (if it’s safe to do so). Distancing yourself may also include reading, colouring, journaling, watching TV, doing your homework, listening to music or a podcast, etc. These activities may subtly let those around you know that you’re busy or unavailable to engage with them. It may help to plan things you can say to distance yourself from someone you feel unsafe around. For example, you could try saying something like, “I’m going to my room to do my homework now,” etc. If you’re unable to physically distance yourself, you can try to create mental space for yourself by putting headphones on (if you have them) and imagining a wall between you and the person who’s being abusive. You can also try focusing on coping strategies that give you a mental break from what’s happening around you. You may try breathing exercises, grounding techniques or focusing on a hobby. It may be helpful to consider what has helped you in the past. Connect with people you trust It can be helpful to surround yourself with people who make you feel safer — in person or virtually. Even if they don’t know exactly what you’re going through, it can be helpful to have people in your life who care about you and support you. For example, you may choose to connect with
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