Are you experiencing domestic violence in yourself or someone close to you? Find out where to seek help, how to recognize warning signs, and how a psychologist can help you find the next safe step.

Domestic violence can take many forms. It is not only about physical attacks. It may include threats, humiliation, control, isolation from loved ones, financial restriction, pressure, sexual violence, or long-term intimidation. What is typical is that it happens repeatedly, often in private, and its intensity can gradually increase.

What domestic violence can look like in everyday life

A person may feel that at home they need to stay constantly on alert. They are afraid to express their opinion, explain where they were, who they texted, why they spent money, or why they did not respond earlier. There may be belittling, outbursts of anger, checking of the phone, forbidding contact with others, withholding sleep, food, or money, sexual pressure, or a partner gradually undermining their certainty and self-confidence. Domestic violence often does not appear all at once, but grows gradually.

Why it can be so hard to recognize the situation and leave

Many people keep telling themselves for a long time that it will get better, that it is not “serious enough,” that maybe the fault is in them, or that they should endure more. Shame, fear, economic dependence, children, emotional attachment, or fear of what will happen next are often part of it as well. That is exactly why domestic violence is so insidious. The threatened person often does not recognize the exact moment when the relationship stopped being safe.

When it is no longer only a relationship problem, but a threat

It is important to be alert when fear, humiliation, pressure, control, threats, physical attacks, sexual coercion, or the feeling that a person must constantly adjust their behaviour so there will “not be a problem” are present in the relationship. The situation is even more serious if the violence escalates, weapons appear, threats toward children occur, strangulation happens, stalking begins, or control continues after separation. At that point, the main question is no longer how to improve the relationship, but how to restore safety.

What can help

What helps most is taking your own experience seriously. If a person has long been feeling fear, chaos, guilt, or tension, it is not something minor. It can be useful to confide in someone safe, keep evidence of the violence, and speak with professional support about the next steps and a safety plan. In Czechia, there is a free 24/7 helpline at 116 006 that provides discreet support, practical advice, and helps people think through the next steps.

What protection can be pursued in Czechia

If the police assess that further attacks are likely, they can immediately remove the violent person from the shared home. Since July 1, 2025, this removal lasts 14 days, even without the consent of the threatened person and even if the violent person owns the apartment or house. The police can also newly seize a weapon during the removal if the violent person possesses one. During this period, further protection can be sought in court, including a contact ban.

When a psychologist or therapist can help

A psychologist or therapist can be very important when a person is experiencing fear, shame, guilt, confusion, anxiety, insomnia, or a loss of trust in themselves after violence. Psychological help can support a person in finding their bearings again, strengthening safety, processing the impact of the violence, and looking for the next step without pressure and without minimising what happened. Professional help also makes sense for children or other loved ones who are affected by domestic violence.

When help is needed immediately

If you are in immediate danger, call 158 or 112. If someone is injured or needs urgent medical help, call 155. In Czechia, these emergency numbers are officially intended for urgent situations, and line 158 is free and operates nonstop. For crisis support in domestic violence situations, the free 24/7 line 116 006 is also available.

You are not alone in this

Domestic violence is not the victim’s failure. It is a serious situation in which one person harms another and abuses their power. The fact that it is hard to speak about it or leave does not mean weakness. It means the situation is serious and deserves protection, support, and professional help. A psychologist, therapist, or crisis support can be an important step toward greater safety and peace.