Frog in the Pot

Have you heard about the frog in the pot?

When you think about a frog…maybe you think of the prince from childhood fairy tales.

Not me.

I think of the metaphorical frog. You know…put a frog in a pot of boiling water? What does the frog do? She jumps!

Same frog.  Room temperature water. She swims, she relaxes…

She just simply is.

Add heat.

Now add some more.

Same frog remains in the heat and even though she feels the temperature rising? She acclimates.

And if the temperature reaches a boil?

She cooks.

Dating abuse doesn’t happen on the first date.

In the beginning? Room temperature…

It all feels great. And then, ever so gradually, the temperature rises. And it gets hotter and hotter…

Yet if you’re the frog?

…Yup. I. Was. The. Frog.

But here is the deal. I did jump…

And here’s another thing. I don’t care if it took a day, a week, a month, a year, a lot of years.

I jumped.

First I jumped out and then jumped back in. And then I jumped out. Only to jump back in.

But eventually I did jump out and away.

Maybe right now as you read this you are thinking:

“That would never happen to _____.”

Fill in the blank: “to me, to my daughter, to my sister, to my brother, to my friend.”

Even if you think: “That would never happen to me, my daughter, my sister, my brother, my friend.”

Good. I hope beyond all hope that you are right.

BUT.  Statistics beg to differ.

IF the statistics are right. Then chances are if not you, t hen someone you know or love will fall victim to intimate relationship abuse in their lifetime.

And really?

Maybe even now as you are reading this?

Maybe you are in that water…

And you want to jump?

You can do it…
JUMP!

It does get better. There is life after abuse.

“My life has been shaped by my survival, and allowing what I endured to settle into my marrow has infused me with a strength that will not waver. Abuse had an effect on me, but it has not made my life any less worthy, any less important, or any less valuable. I refuse to walk around leaning on that experience like a pair of crutches. I am not damaged goods, I am me.” –Elin Stebbins Waldal, Excerpt from Tornado Warning

J-U-M-P

Ending a dating or domestic violence relationship requires a safety plan…make sure you have a safety plan in place before breaking up. And even if you’ve determined your relationship is abusive or unhealthy, that doesn’t mean ending it will be easy.

How to Prepare for a Breakup

You may feel pressure from your friends and family to break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend and move on, but it doesn’t usually feel that simple.

Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking about breaking up:

The person you’re dating has probably become a huge part of your life. You might see more of them now than friends or family. Being scared about feeling lonely after the break up is normal. Talking to friends or finding activities to fill the new time you have will make it easier.
You will miss your boyfriend/girlfriend after you break up. Perhaps you will miss them a lot or only on occasion. Even if they’ve been abusive and controlling, it is normal to miss them. Try writing down the reasons you want to end your relationship now and keep the list as a reminder for later on.
If your boyfriend/girlfriend is controlling and jealous, they more than likely made a lot of decisions for you. It will take time to adjust to making your own decisions again. Be patient with yourself.
You may be scared to end the relationship. If you are, take that fear seriously. Ending a relationship with an abusive or controlling person is not the same as ending a healthy relationship.

How to Break Up

Ending an abusive relationship is not only difficult it can be dangerous. Your boyfriend/girlfriend may become angry and violent, even if they have not been violent in the past. If you are thinking of ending your relationship first review these safety tips:

If you don’t feel safe, don’t break up in person. It may seem cruel to break up over the phone or by email, but these ways can provide the distance needed to stay safe.
If you decide to break up in person, choose a public place. Have friends or your parents wait for you nearby. Take a cell phone with you.
Don’t try to explain your reasons for ending the relationship more than once. There is nothing you can say that will make your ex happy about the break up.
Let your friends and parents know you are ending your relationship, especially if you think your ex will come to your house or try to get you alone.
If your ex comes to your house when you’re alone, don’t go to the door.
Trust yourself. If you feel afraid, you probably have a good reason.
Ask for help. A Peer Advocate at the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline can help you make a plan or locate local resources if you need.

When It’s Over

Just because an abusive relationship is over doesn’t mean the risk of violence is over. Use these tips to stay safe after ending your relationship:

Talk with your friends about what you are going through so they can support you.
Tell your parents or guardian what’s going on, especially if your ex might come by your home.
Talk to your school counselor or a teacher you trust. Together you might alert security, adjust your class schedule or come up with other ways to make you feel safe.
Avoid isolated areas at school and local hangouts and don’t walk home alone.
Stick with friends at parties or events you think your ex might attend.
Save any threatening or harassing emails or text messages your ex sends. Set your profile to private on social networking sites and ask friends to do the same.




If you ever feel you are in immediate danger, call 911.



Author note: I wrote a modified version of this post in 2011 and published it on my first website, given it remains relevant I decided to re-publish it again. The “Frog in the Pot” is a widely known metaphor used for describing gradual change. The frog photo above was credited to thepeoplesvoice.org which no longer seems to be available.

The post Frog in the Pot appeared first on Elin Stebbins Waldal.