Panhandle Crisis Center

05/30/2026

The Real Issue: Coercive Control, Not Mental Health

Abusive individuals deliberately engage in systematic behaviors to dominate and control others. This is coercive control—the core of all abuse. Through financial, legal, physical, and sexual tactics, abusers strip away their victim’s freedom and independence. Using children as tools of abuse is one of the most cruel and damaging tactics an abuser employs.
Coercive control is the foundation of domestic abuse—this is indisputable. It is always intentional, whether overt or covert, and its damage is profound. Even experienced observers can be deceived by its subtlety. Abusive partners and parents may appear stable and caring, but their actions always reveal their intent.
When abusers lose direct control, they will weaponize even the very systems meant to protect families—including family courts. This is a profound betrayal, especially for the children caught in the middle. Every child deserves safety.
If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.

05/29/2026

Even if your partner does have a mental illness, there is NEVER an excuse for abuse. Abuse and mental illness can coincide. There are cases of individuals who have mental illness and are also abusive to their partners. There are also many individuals who have a mental illness and are healthy and supportive partners.

If your partner does have a mental illness and is abusive towards you, it’s important to keep in mind that the mental illness and abusive behaviors need to be addressed separately by the abusive partner.

If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.

05/28/2026

If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.

05/27/2026

Imagina vivir cada día con la incómoda sensación de que alguien está observando cada uno de tus movimientos. De los aproximadamente 7,5 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos que denuncian haber sido acosadas, más de la mitad —al menos el 61 % de las mujeres— identifican a su acosador como su pareja actual o anterior. Es preocupante que solo alrededor del 40 % de las víctimas de acoso denuncien el incidente ante la policía. ¿Por qué? Muchas temen que sus miedos sean ignorados o minimizados. Algunos se aferran a la esperanza de que su acosador simplemente pierda interés y desaparezca.

Pero el peligro es real y a veces se intensifica. El Instituto Nacional de Justicia descubrieron que el 71 por ciento de los acosadores que tienen como objetivo a sus parejas actuales o anteriores finalmente cumplen sus amenazas y agreden a sus víctimas. Jennifer Landhuis, directora de SPARC (Centro de Prevención, Concienciación y Recursos contra el Acoso), destaca lo alto que es el riesgo: El acoso triplica el riesgo de homicidio por parte de la pareja, lo que significa que si una víctima de violencia doméstica también está siendo acosada, tiene un 300 % más de probabilidades de ser asesinada por su pareja.

Si usted o alguien a quien aprecia está enfrentando violencia doméstica o agresión sexual, recuerde: no está sola y hay ayuda disponible. El Panhandle Crisis Center, en Perryton, ofrece un recurso local de apoyo comprometido con su seguridad. Nuestros consejeras ofrecen un espacio comprensivo y libre de juzgamientos, donde podrá hablar sobre sus opciones y recibir apoyo a su propio paso.

Formas de contactarnos:

• Línea de atención las 24 horas para casos de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual:
806-435-5008 o 800-753-5308

• Línea de apoyo por mensaje de texto: 806-202-9374 para contactar con una consejera.

05/27/2026

Imagine living each day with the uneasy feeling that someone is watching your every move. Of the estimated 7.5 million people in the U.S. who report being stalked, more than half—at least 61 percent of women—identify their stalker as a current or former partner. Alarmingly, only about 40 percent of stalking survivors ever go to the police. Why? Many worry their fears will be dismissed or minimized. Some cling to hope that their stalker will simply lose interest and disappear.

But the danger is real and often escalates. The National Institute of Justice found that 71 percent of stalkers who target current or former partners eventually act on their threats, assaulting their victims. Jennifer Landhuis, director of SPARC (Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center), highlights just how high the stakes are: “Stalking produces a three-fold risk of intimate partner homicide, meaning if a victim of domestic violence is also being stalked, they are 300 percent more likely to be killed by that intimate partner.”

If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.

05/26/2026

Perhaps your partner hit you when they were drunk and has since apologized, promising it will never happen again. Or maybe you found out that your partner used to stalk their ex but swears they’ve changed. Is there any way to tell if abusive behaviors will repeat themselves?

The unfortunate truth is that domestic abuse doesn’t tend to be an isolated incident. It’s exceedingly rare that someone in a healthy relationship would hit their partner out of the blue and then never do it again, or use controlling behaviors on one partner but not the next. Abuse is a choice people make in order to wield power and control over another individual, and oftentimes this starts with nonphysical abuse, such as coercion, intimidation and emotional abuse, before escalating to violence. The difference between abuse and “just a bad argument” with a healthy partner is that abusers repeat their abusive behaviors again in the next fight, often escalating them, and typically don’t accept blame or show remorse.

If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.

DomesticShelters.org

05/23/2026

Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects individuals of all gender identities, and transgender people are at an elevated risk. According to the Human Rights Campaign, an alarming 54 percent of transgender and non-binary individuals have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetimes. This statistic is significantly higher compared to the general population, where 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men report encountering such violence, according to the CDC. It’s clear that we need to address this critical issue and advocate for the safety and well-being of all individuals, particularly those in the transgender community.
If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.

05/22/2026

¿Sabías que el embarazo puede aumentar el riesgo de violencia doméstica? Sorprendentemente, el homicidio es la principal causa de muerte entre las personas embarazadas en los Estados Unidos. Cada año, más de 324 000 personas embarazadas sufren abusos. Recuerda que mereces sentirte segura y que hay recursos disponibles para ayudarte.
Si usted o alguien a quien aprecia está enfrentando violencia doméstica o agresión sexual, recuerde: no está sola y hay ayuda disponible. El Panhandle Crisis Center, en Perryton, ofrece un recurso local de apoyo comprometido con su seguridad. Nuestros consejeras ofrecen un espacio comprensivo y libre de juzgamientos, donde podrá hablar sobre sus opciones y recibir apoyo a su propio paso.
Formas de contactarnos:

• Línea de atención las 24 horas para casos de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual: 806-435-5008 o 800-753-5308

• Línea de apoyo por mensaje de texto: 806-202-9374 para contactar con una consejera.

Gracias .org
https://www.domesticshelters.org/articles/statistics/when-pregnancy-triggers-violence

Domestic abuse in pregnancy is a leading cause of harm and even death. Discover warning signs, risks, and how to seek help safely.

05/21/2026

Si es usted una superviviente de la violencia doméstica, puede que conozca demasiado bien el escalofriante poder de las amenazas de un abusador. Lo que pueden parecer palabras vacías o arrebatos emocionales pueden enviar una sacudida de miedo a través de su vida, persistiendo mucho después de que la discusión termine. Estas amenazas no son sólo ruido, son movimientos calculados que los abusadores utilizan para aferrarse a usted con miedo y control. Los expertos advierten de que tales amenazas rara vez son inofensivas; por el contrario, pueden servir como señales de peligro, indicando el peligroso potencial de violencia futura.
La aterradora realidad que se esconde tras las amenazas de los maltratadores
Cuando un abusador amenaza con hacerle daño a usted, a sus seres queridos, a sus mascotas o incluso a sí mismo, no se trata sólo de manipulación, sino de una inminente señal de alarma. Cada amenaza es un escalofriante recordatorio de que su seguridad, y la de sus seres queridos, pende de un hilo.
Estas palabras no sólo pretenden intimidar; a veces presagian lo que está por venir. El abuso verbal, incluidas las amenazas, suele escalar hasta la violencia física. Por eso es tan importante ver cada amenaza como una seria advertencia: un anteproyecto de posibles acciones, no sólo palabras vacías.
Abusadores que amenazan con suicidarse Una de las tácticas más alarmantes es cuando un abusador amenaza con suicidarse. Si es cierto que estas amenazas se utilizan a menudo como medio de manipulación, es vital tratarlas siempre con la máxima seriedad.
La razón es escalofriante: cuando los maltratadores actúan según estas amenazas, a menudo acaban con la vida de otros antes que con la suya propia. Patricia Bathurst, terapeuta matrimonial y familiar licenciada en The Oasis Recovery, explica que los maltratadores pueden «matar a su pareja y/o a otros miembros de la familia, como sus hijos, antes de suicidarse ellos mismos».
Rod Mitchell, psicólogo colegiado en Emotions Therapy Calgary, señala que las amenazas de asesinato-suicidio representan apropiación, no desesperación. "El abusador está eligiendo -entre todas las respuestas posibles a los cambios en la relación- afirmar el control total".
Si usted o alguien a quien aprecia está enfrentando violencia doméstica o agresión sexual, recuerde: no está sola y hay ayuda disponible. El Panhandle Crisis Center, en Perryton, ofrece un recurso local de apoyo comprometido con su seguridad. Nuestros consejeras ofrecen un espacio comprensivo y libre de juzgamientos, donde podrá hablar sobre sus opciones y recibir apoyo a su propio paso.
Formas de contactarnos:

• Línea de atención las 24 horas para casos de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual: 806-435-5008 o 800-753-5308

• Línea de apoyo por mensaje de texto: 806-202-9374 para contactar con una consejera.

05/20/2026

Understanding and establishing digital, physical, financial, and emotional boundaries is vital for creating a balanced and nurturing relationship. It’s important to take the time to discover what feels right for you, as this not only helps you express your needs but also guides your partner in supporting you more effectively. Remember that boundaries are a shared responsibility, and honoring each other’s limits fosters trust and connection. You absolutely have the right to set boundaries, and it’s perfectly okay for them to change as your comfort level evolves over time. Your feelings are valid, and navigating these boundaries together can lead to a deeper understanding and a more fulfilling relationship.

If you or someone you care about is facing domestic violence or sexual assault, remember—you are not alone, and help is available. The Panhandle Crisis Center in Perryton offers a supportive, local resource committed to your safety. Our advocates provide a compassionate, judgment-free space where you can discuss your options and receive support at your own pace.

Ways to Reach Us:

• 24-Hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 806-435-5008 or 800-753-5308
• Text Support Line: 806-202-9374 to connect with an advocate.