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mistake#2
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common reasons why abused women stay
      #32133 - 09/29/06 09:53 PM (71.100.12.144)
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Situational Factors:
Fear of retaliation toward her and her loved ones.
Economic Dependence.
May be killed if she attempts to leave (or children may be killed).
Fear of emotional damage to children.
Lack of affordable, alternative housing and childcare.
Lack of job skills and education.
Social isolation resulting in separation from family or friends.
LACK OF INFORMATION REGARDING ALTERNATIVES.
Fear of involvement in court process.
Cultural and religious constraints.
"Kidnapping" by the non-custodial parent.
Abuse directed toward children during visitation.
No support systems in place.

Emotional Factors:
Loneliness.
Insecurity over potential independence and lack of emotional support.
Guilt about failure of marriage/relationship.
Fear that husband/partner is not able to survive alone.
Belief that husband/partner will change.
Ambivalence and fear over making formidable life changes.
Societal reinforcement of couples;fear of being labeled a "divorcee".
Low self-esteem
DENIAL AND MINIMIZATION - "It's really not THAT bad."
Pressure and stress from family, children, friends, etc.
LACK OF DECISION MAKING SKILLS
"For better or for worse - until death do us part."

Some of you may know from reading past posts that I worked on a victims rights advocate team called DART - Domestic Assault Response Team. I WAS BEING ABUSED AND STILL COULD NOT SPEAK UP TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. It took me a long time to leave because of many of the above reasons, and in the end what made me stay away was not the abuse - it was his cheating. Why? because I kept hoping he would change. There is help out there, you just need to look for it. I didn't go to a shelter or turn to anyone, I was too ashamed and felt too proud - my situation was not life/death but it was escalating.
Don't be afraid to speak to family and friends, don't be afraid to ask for help, don't be afraid to seek out answers, DO be afraid that the violence will escalate, DO be afraid as to what this is doing to your children. Most of all DO get help.
Holly


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sadpuppy
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: mistake#2]
      #32180 - 09/30/06 07:10 AM (66.227.210.207)
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YES please get help do NOT remain silent!!! im having a lot of trouble with this so please read my response to the poem on this site.. please guys DO SOMETHING IF YOU ARE BEING ABUSED!!!!

--------------------
,


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sunshine
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sadpuppy]
      #32445 - 10/01/06 09:56 PM (24.15.159.78)
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It was the most scarriest part of my life...leaving....did'nt know what I was going to do....but
this was not living....abuse is the most cruel form of haterd for a person to have to take...especially when you where unaware of the reason...because there is no reason....the heartbreak of finally seeing the person you willingly chose...become who he really is...the most horrible feeling....and knowing that there is nothing you can do or become to make them change...is sometimes unbearable.

Staying is not an opition....nothing will ever be the same...Never be afraid...the fear is in staying...not leaving....I would rather live in the street...than stay in a loveless..hurtful...abusive marriage... I am a human being...a child of God ...and I deserve better...



Edited by sunshine (10/01/06 10:00 PM)


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Shanniesbubble
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #33054 - 10/04/06 08:05 AM (24.52.29.55)
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Everyone deserves better, you got that right.

The abusers will gets what coming to them in the end. You have to find a strength and hold onto it, you are the strong one, he is the weak one.


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sunshine
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: Shanniesbubble]
      #35791 - 10/16/06 12:07 PM (24.15.153.209)
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The one thing everyone thinks..is that somehow we are strong....we don't think so...weak and hopeless is more like it....If I felt I was strong I would of left long ago...and then there are the childern...it is such a big decision to make...and you have never felt so all alone...

Know one should ever have to be in this situation...that is why it is so important...to encourage the abused to talk....it is very difficult to think there is no hope or way out....being open and having people understand and care what happens to you..is a very important step..trusting someone again does'nt come easy...


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sadpuppy
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #35840 - 10/16/06 04:04 PM (66.227.210.207)
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ok..someone else died because i did not speak.. i was abused.. i took it,,he went out of town on a job training.... he went to a nude bar, got drunk and payed a dancer to sleep with him,,she stiffed him... ran off with her boyfriend..he chased them... lost them.. so here he is..drunk, mad, horny, meanwhile a girl and her boyfriend get into a fight in their car..he gets a flat..she takes off walking.. guess who spots her?? my first husband... mad, horny.. makes a pass at her... she fights back.."NO ONE HITS HIM" and he beats her to death along side the road!! every year i relive this event in my head.. its HORRIBLE!!!!! i did not tell!!! i am living with that guilt.. i SHOULD have done something!!!! Dont you see??? please dont live with abuse!! please put a stop to it in your lives please!!!! i didnt, someone died!!!!!

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sunshine
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sadpuppy]
      #35873 - 10/16/06 06:45 PM (24.15.153.209)
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PuP...If only's are just that....if only you told....do you really think you would'nt relive it again??....I was told to leave stbx so many times....even had to sit down with a policewomen...that told me if I did'nt leave...he would end up killing me...and yet I did nothing...he choked me one night with the nylon jacket that I had on...I got losse...I don't know how...before he choked me...he banged my head into the stove too many times to count...brusing my ribs and hip so bad I could not lay down because of the pain....and yet I did'nt have him arrested....FEAR....I totally was running on empty....and extremely jumpy...and never wanted to be alone with him anywhere....he tried to convince everybody...I was insane...because I was so jumpy and scared....Every night I would put a wood wedge under the middle of the door...and bells on a string on the door knob...I had a baseball bat under my bed...but always thought that he would probably use to kill me if he could...He would rather have me dead than face his own demons....and this was the nightmare that I called life...

I to have guilt...of not doing something...I just could not bring myself to relaizing...he was crasy....and the more I push it...the worse the beatings....Sitting in silence...I could not....paying the price of people snickering at me...and saying it's not that bad..or you would of left.....I wanted to scream so loud...just to release the pain and stupidity these stupid people...who no doubt have their own problems....but would rather live in denial...it will get them....at least you are open...but what could you do? every time I tried to solve all of this...with a different soultion...it always came back to the same origin....you can't change what someone does...it's their skin and you are in your skin...it would also go nowhere...but the same origin....You have mourned enough...for the death...it can change nothing to mourn more...but to delay your need to come to some conclusion that what has happened is over...nothing can ever be reversed....I would like to hear more about what happened to you...please fill in the blanks...you need too...to bring some forgiveness into your life....we can't be responsible for everything...somethings have to have a conculsion...You need to forgive your self....I would forgive you if I was this person....


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sadpuppy
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #35874 - 10/16/06 06:52 PM (66.227.210.207)
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thanks sunshine you are such a beautiful person its just reallyhard in the fall

--------------------
,


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my3sons
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #36605 - 10/19/06 11:57 AM (208.62.43.196)
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Hello I am new to divorce myself but can agree with this so called Roller Coaster ride that occures. I married my highschool sweetheart and began noticing that he was changing. Aside from what I assumed was a little jealous nature. He was angry about every 6 months he shut down., He got angry quickly and over petty things such as some guy looks at me or I happen to not have dinner started when he came home. The sad thing is he didn't even to notice this about himself. I chalked it up to being newlyweds and we had a child at the time. We moved out of his moms and into our own home. That is when it all started. Slowly his anger became focused on me he would tell me to just go to the other room and get out of his face. I left him and he followed me. He begged and pleaded and swore to change so I went back to the love of my life. Things were good for a while but it started again. This time things in the home took the brunt---pictures got broke things got thrown. I was not in contact with my parents and had no car and no job basically he was my world...as twisted as it was. His anger seemed to die down after about 2 years and I assumed he was growing up. We had our second child and life was good, good jobs, nice home, and then I started working. The once needy wife became the moneymaking bad girl to him. All of the sudden I was accused of doing thins like going out, sleeping with other men and basically pulling away from him, Here is where it got worse, he began putting his fist through walls, he broke the pole off our 4 post bed with one quick swing of his fist. I think this is when I realized I would be next.
of course the i'm sorry's came at this point (again) and like a fool I was afraid to leave. If I stayed and tried to keep things calm it was better than leaving and not knowing where he was or what he was up to. I felt as long as I am here I can keep him calm....boy was I wrong but that is how he made me feel. I remember telling the boys to be quiet or don't fight or dad will get mad. That is when I found out I was expecting again. We moved away from both our families and once again the roller coaster slowed down. At least for a few years. We bought our first house 5 years ago and violence started this time focused physcially at me. I had listened to years of being put down, called names that I will not repeat and now physcial. It started with things "accidentally" hitting me when he threw them. Mind you these episodes came only once every few years . But 2 summers ago I got the crap beat out of me, with all 3 children as witness. this I saw as my definate way out. So I had him arrested and left. The boys and I moved into a small house. He was ordered to go to anger management and he did. he cried alot and was very emotional about the whole situation.
I was still in love and felt that it was not him that caused this but situations in life that we faced. after 9 months I took him back and life was again good. I still never gained the trust back and lost alot of love for him. But I felt like the boys needed to see dad reform and change his ways. Earlier this year he turned on the kids and I realized I had let this happen by taking him back. My child was kicked across the room and had a shoe threw at him, ontop of the names he was called by his dad. He also threw a knife across the room not once but 2 times.
I again left, this time I got an attorney and began process of divorce. I allowed brief visits with the children b/c he moved in with his mom who was a constant support on my side. 2 months ago on a visit he called and said he was not bring the kids back until he felt it was safe....from what I still do not know. But after getting the police involved I got them back, took out an oop and have finalized Divorce papers.
now he is sending messages through the children. Basically he loves me and wants me to not date so he has the chance to change and fix things. Now my brief moment of solitude is clouded with fear of what he is capeable of now.

Sorry this so long but can anyone help me now to make him realize that it is not fixable anylonger...without making him mad and coming after me again.....


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trojanmom
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Reged: 10/12/06
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #36631 - 10/19/06 01:22 PM (72.154.251.93)
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Go on with your life I have been waiting for my ex to change for 12 yrs. After I married again he stood on my doorstep and actually questioned me as to why I had remarried. He said and I quote, "You are my wife." I was a posession not a person to him. His next wife had him arrested for beating her up, they are now soon to be ex's and the girlfriend he has had since then saw the violent side of him also. He is on to another woman now. Abusers are crafty and I think they lie so much that they believe what they say to be the truth.

All in all please do not spend anymore time waiting for change. It will be great if it does happen but could you every truly forget the past enough to have a real relationship. Remember the bruises on the outside will fade long before the ones on the inside.

--------------------
"You cannot control other's thoughts or actions ... the good point... others cannot control yours!"


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sunshine
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: trojanmom]
      #36690 - 10/19/06 06:55 PM (24.15.153.209)
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Lets just say ...I could forget because now...it is useless to question it....I am divorcing him....What happen before cannot be corrected and I really have a much more pleasant life now that he is gone...I have'nt talked to him in seven months and don't have to...

He is what he is....and can continue to be...I have better things to do now....I can live with my self....I just hope he can't live with himself regardless if he thinks he did'nt do any thing....


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Sassinmama
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Reged: 10/22/06
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sadpuppy]
      #37518 - 10/23/06 08:14 AM (70.34.177.194)
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I just found this site last night and these posts have been SUCH an affirmation to me! It took me 20 years in an abusive marriage before I finally decided to get a divorce. I left him a little over a year ago and our divorce should be final within the next 4-8 weeks if all goes well. And I suspect that is only because he's found someone else - he has all the sudden decided he wants it finished and isn't going to fight me anymore.

It took SO long to, first, admit to myself the abuse was happening and then, second, to dare to get a divorce. We were separated twice because of his abuse of the kids. But he has the BEST public facade I've ever seen. It fools EVERYONE. He is so meek, mild-mannered, and gentle for all to see -- it seems he couldn't possibly squash a bug, much less abuse his family in private. In 20 years I've known of only 5 or 6 people who have seen past his facade and only 2 of those realized he was abusing his family in private. The others figured out he was a pathological liar.

This past year I have gotten really up close and personal with the reasons women either don't leave an abuser or go back to one. It has been hell. There are NO resources for women whose abusers don't leave bruises. I can't qualify for legal aid, though I have no income. So I have to pay a high-priced attorney somehow (I owe him a gajillion dollars) because my hubby has been fighting for custody of our 4-year-old. I'm determined he WILL NOT have custody of her because, though he hasn't laid a finger on her yet because she's still so young and cute, the day WILL come. And then it will be too late. And he completely convinced the judge at our temporary hearing. I only barely maintained custody because of one statement in one of the afidavits I submitted and the judge put heavy qualifiers on me to be able to keep custody at final.

If I didn't have family to live with I'd truly be sunk. I've finally found work in the last week and the pay is atrocious. Being a stay-home mom for the past 20 years, though I kept my office skills up, has made finding a job almost impossible. The judge is requiring me to have a living income and a home of my own to keep custody of my 4-year-old.

Anyone who says verbal and emotional abuse aren't real has never lived with them. Eventually, in a true batterer, they will escalate (though my hubby always explained it away; it was always my fault or the kids' fault -- you know how that goes). But that daily terrorism is just as deadly as visible bruises and broken bones. I left him as soon as I was strong enough after completing chemo and I believe I got cancer (no family history or risk factors) because of living in that nightmare for so long. I have a friend who had a heart attack at 40 because of the stress of living with a verbal abuser.

I went looking for online support because I can't find anything out there IRL. For women who have visible bruises there are resources. But for those of us who have lived a private and invisible nightmare there is nothing. I'm having trouble acting like it's OK that the people who are my friends are still friends with my nearly-X. Especially my church. But it's all my word against his, even though the straw that broke the camel's back the summer before I left him was being sexually assaulted 3 times. Even that action he did subtly by "taking" it when I was under the influence of sleeping pills due to the chemo. It makes me so angry to think about what happened and yet no one (other than my psych who helped me finally get rid of the nightly nightmares and 3-4 days/week migraines) believes it was that big a deal - or that it was even assault. I feel like I've lost EVERYTHING - not just the illusion of normalcy with a marriage.

Thanks for these posts!

--------------------
-- Sassinmama

"Never let life steal your sass!"


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sunshine
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: Sassinmama]
      #37587 - 10/23/06 12:20 PM (24.15.153.209)
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You have found a safe haven here....your private hell is acknowledged...I had the brusies... the emotional and verbal hell also...when I look at it now...it looks like a nightmare that I am veiwing...but I could not accept it as mine....even with all the terror and threats...I still could only think of how it was in the beginning...when I was 17 and started dating him.....it was to hard to see what he really has become...this is the real person he is..the one I had in my head...did'nt exsist....

So sorry for your illness...I hope it is in remission and cured....I loss my sense of smell and taste because of all the crying..I had chronic sinuses...but when they took scans...they could find no reason physically for this....
post-traumatic stress....how could we take all this...to embarassed to tell anyone or have anyone think we had problems....and the fear of having to someday deal with all this can real make you very ill...

The court system in not always reliable...they let stbx go to trial with jury and win...I had him arrested for domestic violence...he pled not guilty...coward....the pictures they took look like I was in a war zone....he had to be in jail for 72 hrs. and had a $5,000 fine....the states attorney botched up every thing and so did my first lawyer...signing away my order of protection for support money that I was intitled to anyway.....alot to learn...thank God for the internet and his soc.no.....I learned so much about myself and stbx since March 10th. of this yr.

Finding yourself begins with admitting there is a problem...and not neccessarily you...your problem like mine was accepting the worst behavior for yourself...we just took it because the punishment that they could place on us was horrible...I have two grown sons...that survived all this intact with the belief that controlling someone was wrong...something I always told them..but I should of listened to my self say it....I did'nt even feel human anymore...just a head-nodding doll...trying to save her precious little self-regard from totally disappearing...

Thank-God it will soon be over for you..maybe soon mine will be too....I like my life now...It feels good not to have to cry every day and not feel loved or cared for...to much was given to them...I have taken back all of it...he can stand alone with his horrid mommy that he so listen to...I am glad he is gone...I deserve better for my self....and plan on taking it alone for awhile till I know everything I need so this never happens again...


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Sandra52
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #37614 - 10/23/06 01:15 PM (71.41.22.114)
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Welcome! There are a lot of nice people here. I stumbled in here and am thankful I did. Sometimes knowing we aren't alone makes a world of difference.

--------------------
Think wrongly if you please, but in all cases think for yourself. -- Doris Lessing


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Sassinmama
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #37660 - 10/23/06 02:53 PM (70.34.177.194)
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My stbx is a mama's boy too. He called her and "tattled" on me throughout our marriage, at least every week. I felt she was the "other woman" in our marriage in many ways. He definitely had a stronger emotional connection to her than he ever did with me. His relationship with her was the priority relationship. In fact, when I told him I was getting a divorce he immediately moved to Tennessee (I live in GA) to be near his parents -- and tried to take the two youngest children. That was when I hired an attorney and had him served. After that, the law here doesn't allow either of us to remove the minor children from the jurisdiction of the court unless permanent or temporary custody has been determined.

We have 2 boys who are 17 and almost 20. I am amazed at how well they are turning out considering what they've lived through. Yes, they have issues. The oldest got the lion's share of the physical abuse and he barely tolerates his dad. The second is in denial. He even told the judge at our preliminary trial that there wasn't any abuse. He's since told me he does remember the abuse (he always denied it when it happened; said he didn't remember) but he still excuses it and/or thinks it is not as bad as it really is. His issue is he is totally enmeshed in the whole passive-aggressive manipulation thing with his dad. That's even harder to define and pinpoint to teach him how to behave differently. Both boys have had problems treating me like their father did whenever they are upset with me - yelling, screaming, swearing and calling me vile names. I've had to take a very hard line with them on it in the past year but we've made tons of progress. They've never been wild or rebellious otherwise, though. I think we've been lucky there. No drugs or delinquency, etc. They are both hard workers and remarkably responsible for their ages.

I've learned a ton about my stbx since I started seeing my psych in Feb of this year. Even uncovered major ways he deliberately deceived me the ENTIRE time we were married. That helped me alot - to have tangible proof that it wasn't me after all. It also made me realize trying to keep his secrets and, at the same time, despising me because I didn't figure it out, probably had a lot to do with the way he treated me. That was when the nightmares and migraines stopped -- he didn't have the power to terrify me anymore.

My attorney has been in agreement with me that we would only hurt my case if we tried to convince the court of his sexual assault, etc. There's no proof and since he has such an incredibly convincing demeanor I'd look like a raving idiot. It's hard to accept that there will be no justice but I keep trying to remind myself that at least I'm not living with my stomach in a knot every day wondering when the next eruption was going to happen, and walking on egg shells trying to make sure I don't cross one of his invisible and ever-changing lines. And as far as I can have anything to do with it, my daughter will not learn by my example to marry an abuser herself someday.

--------------------
-- Sassinmama

"Never let life steal your sass!"


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mistake#2
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: mistake#2]
      #104748 - 05/08/07 04:32 PM (71.100.2.78)
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##Bump##

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mistake#2
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: mistake#2]
      #179756 - 02/19/08 07:17 PM (71.100.164.132)
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,,

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scbeck
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sadpuppy]
      #180045 - 02/20/08 12:40 PM (99.252.97.150)
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Puppy,

Sunshine said it well. Please remember you were no more responsible for what your ex did to that woman than you are for what he did to you. HE IS THE ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS. You are responsible only for you. As long as you keep feeling this responsibility he has some control over you. It is time to let go. Your freedom now honors her memory.

Christine

--------------------
This is the first day of the rest of my life. Or maybe tomorrow will be.


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newgal08
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sunshine]
      #185620 - 03/10/08 06:06 PM (63.76.65.4)
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AMEN!!!! I could not have said it better!

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newgal08
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: sadpuppy]
      #185621 - 03/10/08 06:09 PM (63.76.65.4)
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For God's sake, it is NOT your fault that he killed that girl! HE DID IT. I hope you have stopped torturing yourself.

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newgal08
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: Sassinmama]
      #185623 - 03/10/08 06:23 PM (63.76.65.4)
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Hi,

Reading your post was like reading the story of my marriage. My husband is the same way: he has convinced everyone that he is the victim, that I am the abuser, and he has lied over and over again about what "really happens" to everyone we know, even my family. He is very mild-mannered and looks like and appears like he wouldn't hurt a fly. He is the devil, and from what you stated here, your husband (or maybe EX now, I hope!) is his twin. It is most damaging and almost unbearable pain felt from someone like this. I have cried for years and it is truly a miracle that I am not insane, have some incurable disease, or am not chemically addicted to something, or haven't killed myself! Sometimes I think that getting away is harder than staying. Then I re-read my journals, find postings like this, hear of another women beaten to death, and conclude: THE HELL IS LIVING WITH HIM, NOT BEING ON MY OWN. No matter how hard it gets, it will never be as bad as continuing to take his abuse, especially emotional abuse. I have decided that I would rather die than be in a relationship with him. Emotional abusers are very manipulative and are pathological liars. I am in the midst of a divorce and I have all sorts of ups and downs, but I can tell you for sure, little by little, I am becoming stronger and stronger, even just a tiny bit a day. One of these days, I will be the person that I was prior to my marriage and so will you!!!! God bless...


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mistake#2
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Reged: 07/19/06
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Re: common reasons why abused women stay [Re: mistake#2]
      #219422 - 07/15/08 02:51 PM (24.94.123.111)
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[quote]Situational Factors:
Fear of retaliation toward her and her loved ones.
Economic Dependence.
May be killed if she attempts to leave (or children may be killed).
Fear of emotional damage to children.
Lack of affordable, alternative housing and childcare.
Lack of job skills and education.
Social isolation resulting in separation from family or friends.
LACK OF INFORMATION REGARDING ALTERNATIVES.
Fear of involvement in court process.
Cultural and religious constraints.
"Kidnapping" by the non-custodial parent.
Abuse directed toward children during visitation.
No support systems in place.

Emotional Factors:
Loneliness.
Insecurity over potential independence and lack of emotional support.
Guilt about failure of marriage/relationship.
Fear that husband/partner is not able to survive alone.
Belief that husband/partner will change.
Ambivalence and fear over making formidable life changes.
Societal reinforcement of couples;fear of being labeled a "divorcee".
Low self-esteem
DENIAL AND MINIMIZATION - "It's really not THAT bad."
Pressure and stress from family, children, friends, etc.
LACK OF DECISION MAKING SKILLS
"For better or for worse - until death do us part."

[/quote]


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