INPUT ARTICLE: Article: At first, you might notice strange or incongruent behavior in the relationship. Gaslighting can begin very subtly. Having felt like you’ve had a good time together or that you really like the person, you might write off the strange behavior and move on. Maybe it was a first or second date that went really well up until the end, when the person left abruptly or made a rude comment.  If you’re upset yet the person insists that it’s “no big deal” or “just a joke,” go with your gut and don’t excuse the strange behavior. As gaslighting progresses, the thoughts may transform from, “Why do they behave so strangely?” to, “What’s wrong with me?” Your partner may blame you or you may begin to blame yourself. Your partner may say, “I’m doing this for your own good,” or, “If you didn’t hurt me, I wouldn’t hurt you back. It’s your fault.” You might blame yourself for not being a ‘good enough’ partner or for constantly letting your partner down. If every problem in the relationship is your fault and you feel like the relationship isn’t working because of you, think again. You’re likely taking all the blame for what goes wrong when, in fact, it’s a joint effort. Even if the facts don’t add up, you may feel confused and internalize the flaw instead of seeing the discrepancy in the situation. You may try desperately to understand your partner’s point of view or to help them see yours, to no avail. You might feel like you cannot trust your emotions or yourself.  This can lead to not feeling any sense of trust in yourself or your emotions. You might actually begin to think you’re going crazy. You may ask yourself, “Am I imagining things? My partner sounds rational, but I feel irrational. Is it a problem with me and how I interpret things?” When you experience discrepancies in how you think or feel and are told you are wrong, you may start to wonder, “Am I crazy? Is my perception off? Am I a monster? Am I overly sensitive?” These obsessive thoughts may run through your mind over and over throughout the day. By your partner telling you that your reality is wrong and not real, you may begin to question every experience you have, both with and without your partner. You may begin to doubt who you are and how you see the world. You might ask yourself, “Am I too sensitive?” over and over until you’re really not sure what is real and what isn’t.

SUMMARY: Identify feelings of disbelief. Recognize if you constantly feel blame. Identify emotional confusion. Notice obsessive thoughts.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You will need your driver's license or ID number in order to choose the online registration method. If you do not have this card with a Washington-issued ID number on it, you will need to register by mail or in person with a different form of ID. Once you open your internet browser, you can either do an online search for the terms "Washington State Voter Registration" or you can type in the direct address of the registration page, which is https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/voterinformation/pages/registertovote.aspx. You will need to press the button to start a new registration. Then you will confirm your Washington voter eligibility with several pages of questions.  You must confirm that you are a US citizen and you will be over the age of 18 on election day. In addition, you cannot be detained for a felony or have a guardianship. You must be a legal resident of Washington state. This can be proven using your state-issued ID. There will be empty boxes on the "personal info" page where all of this information can be entered. You will also need to enter the online security "captcha" code at the bottom of the page to continue. The code at the bottom helps to ensure that no one is able to hack into the site with a computer program. Review the information that you have given and confirm that it is correct. This will serve as your digital signature. This will be done when you are working under the "declaration" tab on the webpage. Click the button that says "submit." The screen should update almost immediately to say that you have submitted your voter registration form.  You should receive confirmation by mail and you should receive a mail-in ballot with each election.

SUMMARY: Get out your driver's license or state identification card. Go online to the Washington Secretary of State's voter registration page. Click on the option to register online and answer the questions given. Fill in your name, birth date, gender, and driver's license or ID number. Confirm that the information you gave is true and correct. Submit your Washington voter registration.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If your child has been taken out of your custody, you should seriously consider hiring a reputable family law attorney. Family law attorneys can specialize in many different disciplines (e.g., divorce, adoption, custody) so be sure you find one that specializes in juvenile court processes and custody issues. To find a reputable attorney, call your local bar association or visit their website. State and town bar associations often have attorney referral services for your convenience. You can also talk to friends and family to see if they have any recommendations. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you during your first hearing, which will be the detention hearing. At your first meeting with the social worker assigned to your case, which will be the Team Decision-making Meeting (TDM), you will have a chance to ask that your child be placed in the custody of a relative. When you attend your TDM, you should bring any family member you are thinking about having take responsibility of your child. Regardless of your efforts, the social worker will also contact relatives to inquire about having the child placed with them.  In order to have your child placed with a relative, that relative must pass a background check and must have a place for the child to sleep. CPS will walk through the relative's home in order to ensure the home's safety. Do not worry if your relative is financially unable to care for your child. In this event, your relatives would receive a monthly stipend to help care for your child. When your child is taken from you, you will have the right to ask why. When you do so, ask the social worker about the nature of the allegations against you and what has been alleged. In addition, you can ask about how the CPS process will be conducted and what you can expect. Finally, you can always ask CPS what will happen as a result of any court hearings and processes. If your child has been taken from you, know that you have the right to visit them. In order to do so, you must talk with CPS and discuss how this can be arranged. In general, you will have the right to visit your child within five days of them be taken from you. This first visitation will likely be supervised. After that first visit, talk with the social worker assigned to your case about working out a schedule of when you can visit with your child in the future. If you disagree with the social worker's decisions regarding visitation, you have the right to appeal their decision to a court. When your child is taken out of your custody, the social worker must complete certain tasks within a specific timeline. This ensures your child is not taken away from your for longer than necessary and that you have the ability to be heard in court. In general, your case will proceed as follows:  On day one, your child will be removed from your care and the social worker assigned to your case will have 48 hours to gather facts and prepare a petition for a juvenile court. On day two, you will be notified about the date and time of your first hearing, which is called a detention hearing. On day three, the social worker will file their petition, which explains to the court why your child has been removed from your custody. On day four (or within 72 hours of your child being removed), your detention hearing will take place in order to determine where your child will stay. You will be assigned an attorney at this hearing if you have not already hired one.

SUMMARY:
Find an attorney. Request that your child be placed in the care of a relative. Ask CPS about the nature of the allegations against you. Know about your right to visit your child. Consider a possible timeline.