Dynamics of Abuse
People who have never experienced abuse often find it difficult to imagine why individuals don’t leave and how the abuse can continue for years. Relationships almost never start out abusive. It is important to remember that love and intimacy precede the abuse, which can make it difficult to break away. Abusive relationships are not violent all the time. There are periods when an individual is reminded why they fell in love with their partner. Abusers effectively weave together intimacy and abuse to control their partners.