Rosalín on Nostr: I just got done talking to a cult victim who believed they could not run away without ...

I just got done talking to a cult victim who believed they could not run away without their important documents. If you are in the US and are in an unsafe environment due to cult, intimate partner or family based violence and wish to leave your situation, let me be clear:
* Your social security card can be replaced for only a few dollars. I had to do this. The process was pretty painless, in my experience.
* For lost birth certificates, contact the issuing state. So, if you're in Colorado but you were born in New York, contact New York. A replacement birth certificate is only a few dollars.
* Replacement copies of passports aren't super cheap, but you can use your ID to file for a replacement. Replacement copies are cheaper than original copies.
* If you have your social security card, birth certificate, and proof of residency, that's generally enough to get a new ID if you move to a new state.
* If you are missing documents, state offices are pretty good about telling you how to get what you're missing.
* You do *not* need to stay in an unsafe situation purely because an unsafe person is holding your important documents hostage.
* Abusers would like us to believe that replacing our important documents is hard. As a cult run-away, I'm here to say, please don't believe anyone who tells you this.
* If you need to run away and need help with a safety or escape plan, please call 988 to be directed to a resource appropriate to your given situation.
* You are not alone. Organizations are out there to help people who need to leave, people just like you and me. From one run-away to another, you can do this. I believe in you.
* Lastly, please remember to stay safe while planning your escape. Remember, what can't be done today can be done tomorrow. If you're caught, you will have to adapt on the fly. Save yourself the trouble and think smart to stay safe during your planning phase.

Good luck to you,
Rosalin