“He’s been trying to get me …”: The lived experience of survivors of intimate partner strangulation after leaving the abusive relationship

Purpose The purpose of this article is to examine the lived experience of survivors of intimate partner strangulation after they have left the abusive relationship. This cohort of survivors of intimate partner violence are being identified in literature due to their elevated risk for harm, vulnerability for femicide, and the complexity brought to their lives through the psychological burdens of facing their impending death, often many times over. Methods In-depth interviews were carried out with 16 survivors of intimate partner strangulation. Transcripts were analyzed by all authors. Results The analysis identified themes relating to safety, health, employment, housing, and mothering concerns. Although these themes can also align with the lived experience of other survivors of severe intimate partner violence, survivors of intimate partner strangulation are being identified as a cohort, and their lived experience in the post-abusive relationship phase requires exploration to determine how strangulation, experienced alongside a compendium of other forms of violence, impacts on their lives. Conclusions Survivors of intimate partner strangulation can benefit from long-term support to facilitate their ongoing journey of recovery. This study highlights the interrelated nature of these survivors’ needs in the post-relationship period. Recommendations include the establishment of a strangulation specialist service with a nurse practitioner and systems navigator to coordinate survivors’ access to wraparound support.