CHICAGO (WLS) — October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

One in three women and one in four men will experience domestic violence in their lives, according to the Chicago Department of Family and support services.

Thirty percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend, over the past year.

The Illinois Domestic Violence hotline received more than 59,000 contacts last year. That number has more than doubled over the past five years.

Rebecca Darr, the president and CEO of Wings, the largest provider of domestic abuse services in Illinois, says it’s not just about someone being physically abused.

“It’s more often not physical abuse. It’s more often emotional abuse. The big one that people don’t realize is financial abuse. The number one reason that people stay in those situations is because they don’t have access to money. And if you don’t have access to money, you can’t leave,” Darr said.

Tiffany Jasmine is a WINGS graduate, she said she grew up witnessing domestic violence, then experienced it herself.

“It was all I knew and all that I was capable of. I didn’t think that it could be any different,” Jasmine said. “It was a really bad mindset of just being trapped, like this is what it always is or it was my fault.”

Her life changed when she was in the hospital and met a WINGS counselor who made her understand that abuse wasn’t always physical.

The American Brain Foundation reports that more than 75% of domestic violence survivors experience traumatic brain injuries.

“We were given the opportunity to test this with our survivors in our safe houses. We have emergency safe houses and we have long term housing for our survivors as well as all the support services. And we knew that we had clients that were experiencing traumatic brain injury. It’s manifested primarily by memory, memory loss. And slurring of words. And the implications of that if someone’s a shelter or safe house there are certain rules they have to follow. One of those being meetings with your case manager. And with your counselors. And if you have a brain injury and you forget it comes across as non-compliant, she said.

Darr explained that the main cause of brain injuries in survivors is strangulation. It’s important to get the right diagnosis, treatment and support.

WINGS launched a program in Chicago medical advocates appointed to survivors to help their memory and attend court and doctor appoitnments.

As for Jasmine’s life these days she said she feels like a completely different person.

“Back then, I wouldn’t even have the space to think about what I want to do or my dreams,” she said.

To support her family she created Bloomology.

If you need help or know someone in need of help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential support 24/7/365. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text the word “START” to 88788.