Reading Time: 3 minutes Often, a victim of abuse believes she has been successful in hiding it from the world, and it can come as a shock to find out that someone knows. There are often feelings of shame and humiliation, anger and denial, all of which make reaching out or confronting them tricky. There may even be issues with substance abuse at work, in which case you will want help from a professional. If you suspect a loved one is being abused, sit down and talk with her alone. Ask if she needs help. In many cases, saying the words out loud can “wake up” the victim and allow her to realize that she doesn’t have to stay in her situation.