Over the next three weeks I’d like to discuss the cycle of violence in an abusive relationship. Remember, abuse is all about manipulation and control. Each part of the cycle is equally controlling. This cycle repeats itself throughout the course of the relationship and can also be part of the reason why people stay in an abusive relationship for so long.
The three phases are as follows:
Tension Building--After a period of calm, the relationship starts to take on a different feel. Tensions increase.
The actual abuse--Emotional, physical, and/or financial abuse takes place.
Honeymoon--After a period of abuse, the abuser does what it takes to make sure the victim stays in the relationship.
The time frame of the cycle can be from just a short amount of time (a few hours) to a long time (over a year), depending on the relationship.
Next week I’ll delve into the meaning of the Tension Building Phase.
Remember, if we can help just one victim, we’ve done our job!
Katelin Maloney