Abusive relationships often follow a typical pattern with three phases:
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Phase I: Tension Building - You feel like you are ‘walking on eggshells,’ and afraid of confrontation. The abuser is edgy, easily agitated and unpredictable. Anxiety is heightened.
Phase II: Acute or Abusive – Anxiety leads to an explosion of physical or sexual violence. A crime is committed. If the relationship has not yet included physical abuse to this point, the abuser may threaten with physical abuse or may become very scary at this point, screaming and yelling more violently than before.
Phase III: Honeymoon – Abuser begs forgiveness and swears it will never happen again. The abuser denies violent actions or blames you. You may feel anger, love, guilt, fear, remorse. You want to believe your partner, you forgive, you stay.
