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She loves her partner. It is the abuse she hates, not the abuser.
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The relationship is not always bad; at times it is very good.
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Her partner promises to change.
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She wants to keep her family intact.
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She does not define her experience as abuse.
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She believes all relationships are like hers.
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She may come from an abusive home and never have experienced any other type of relationship
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Her religion stresses the sanctity of marriage and the family.
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She feels sorry for her partner.
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She believes he can't help himself and that he needs her.
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She believes the abuse is her fault and that she can find a way to make things right if only she tries hard enough.
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She is ashamed of having other people find out she is abused.
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She is afraid that no one will believe she is battered or abused because her partner is so nice to everyone else.
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She feels she has no place to go if she leaves.
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She is afraid to be alone. Many women have never lived by themselves.
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She has been convinced that no one else will ever want her.
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She has no job or money.
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She is afraid she won’t be able to make it on her own.
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She is humiliated by the thought of having to go on welfare.
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She is unaware of the social services available to her.
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She may not trust the social service system.
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She is unaware of her legal rights.
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She fears she may be unable to protect or provide for her children.
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Her partner threatens to take the children away.
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She is afraid he will turn the children against her.
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He keeps telling her she is crazy and she has begun to believe it.
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He threatens to report her to “the authorities” as a bad parent.
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He threatens to harm the children if she leaves.
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She fears he will follow her and find her wherever she goes.
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He threatens to kill himself if she leaves.
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He threatens to kill her.
