Last Updated on May 11, 2022 by Fair Punishment Team

If you, your loved one or someone else that you know has been recently threatened with violence, then first and foremost, we’re very sorry that you’re currently having to go through this upsetting situation.

No matter what the circumstances might be, getting threats of violence made towards you is never acceptable, and can take a toll on you emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

Besides being extremely upsetting and unnecessary, having threats of violence made towards you can not only cause your emotional state to be rocked, but it can even cause you to experience prolonged feelings of fear, anxiety, and distress.

Alongside these issues, you might also discover that you experience chest pains, nausea, a loss of appetite, sickness, and even the inability to sleep soundly at night.

With all of that being said, if you have clicked on this article for guidance and advice, then please rest assured that we will do everything in our power to help you navigate through this situation safely.

In order to ensure that you are able to reach a peaceful resolution, this article is going to be talking you through everything that you need to know. Whenever you’re ready, please read on.

What To Do When Someone Threatens You With Violence: Consider The Threat

First things first, before anything else we recommend that you take a few moments to assess what the situation is.

Even though threats can be extremely scary no matter what they are, you might find that the threat isn’t as serious as you might have initially thought. Let’s break this down further below:

Consideration #1: Is The Threat Immediate?

As we have mentioned above, it’s important to make sure that you are dealing with the threat as soon as it arises, which is why it’s so important to take the time to quickly assess the seriousness of the threat that you have been given.

To provide you with an example of what we mean by this, if you are being threatened by someone standing in front of you with a weapon, then you’re going to need to consider possible ways to defend yourself, gain help from people nearby, or even locate an adequate escape route to ensure you have the best chances of getting out of harm’s way.

As you’re currently reading through this article, it is likely that you are not currently experiencing this kind of immediate threat, however, if it is something that you are worried could happen – then we strongly recommend that you take the safety precaution to alert your police department so that they can help you and give you the assistance that you need to say safe.

Once again, if you feel that you could be in a situation in the near future where this type of immediate threat might be presented to you, it is better to take the necessary steps to ensure your safety now rather than later.

Consideration #2: Is The Threat Non-Immediate?

If, after reading the section above, you’re relatively sure that you have not (and will not) be experiencing an immediate threat such as the example we have shared with you above, then it is highly likely that you are possibly experiencing something known as non-immediate threats.

Unlike immediate threats that come with the high possibility of the threat being actually carried out, non-immediate threats may not carry as much chance of actually becoming a reality.

However, that doesn’t mean that they should be taken any less seriously.

Regardless of whether you think that the person threatening you is going to act on their threats or not, it is important to make sure that you are reporting the threat to the police so that they can deal with it and provide you with all of the appropriate support needed to ensure that the issue gets dealt with and you are kept safe.

Your safety is imperative! As a side note, if you are currently experiencing non-immediate threats, then we strongly recommend that you present any evidence you have of the threat(s) to the police so that your claims will be taken with more urgency.

The evidence that you provide can be anything from an email to a text message, all the way to a crumpled-up note – whatever you have will be sufficient. If you have evidence of the threat, it is very important that you are making sure to show this to the authorities.

What To Do When Someone Threatens You With Violence: Important Steps To Follow

Alongside making an assessment of the threat(s) that you are receiving so you can decide the best route of action to deal with them, there are a variety of other steps that you should take when you are being threatened with violence by another person. Check them out below:

1. Tell Another Person

Though this one should go without saying, some people do not always opt to reach out for help due to fear or another reason.

However, it is very important that you make sure to tell another person that you trust, as they will be able to help you, as well as be aware of the situation at hand. This will be very helpful if the situation gets worse.

2. Keep All Of Your Evidence Safe

Just like we have already mentioned above, the next step that you should take is to keep all of your evidence of the threats safe.

By retaining all of the evidence, you will be able to document the threats you have been receiving and add credibility to your situation if you need to go to the police.

3. Get A Restraining Order

If the situation persists and you are finding that you are still receiving consistent threats, you will need to get a restraining order.

In order to do this, you will need to go to your local police department, where they will be able to assist you further.

To be prepared for this situation should it occur, make sure that you are keeping your evidence safe as we have just mentioned above.