Domestic violence way up during the pandemic. Woman (actress's voice and different name) on the radio this morning speaking about having had to take refuge in a shelter (there's 9 counties in the republic without a women's refuge - though men can get abused too) and her story was revealing.
She said the abuse didn't just happen overnight. It escalated, particularly after their baby was born. She was in an abusive relationship and finally mustered the courage to leave him. He haunted her at work and her family. Eventually she went back to him with their child because she had nowhere else to go. But the coercive control and mental abuse was so bad she wasn't allowed even go to the bathroom without leaving the door open! She finally left him again but the second time she was much better prepared, and knew where to go and what to expect.
She said that while the physical violence lasted a few minutes, mental violence could take much much longer to get over.
Nobody should have to put up with sh*t like that!