I am afraid to leave – he/she has threatened to kill me, take my children, hurt my family/friends, never leave me alone, etc.

If I leave, he/she will kill himself/herself

I have no where to go

I don't want my children to live in a shelter, leave their friends, change schools, go into hiding etc.

I want my children to have a father/mother – children are the true victims in a divorce

I don't want to become a single parent

I am all alone – my friends and family will not talk to me anymore

No one will believe me

The police can't or won't do anything

I don't trust the police and/or attorneys

If he/she just stops drinking or using drugs the violence will stop

I lose control sometimes - she/he just pushes my buttons

I can't live without her/him – she/he is my entire life

If I can't have her/him no one else can

I will take the kids and never let her/him see them again if she leaves me

It is a sign of my concern and love wanting to know whom she/he is with, wears, talks to, etc.

Her/his family and friends are a bad influence – I am doing her/him a favor

I barely touched her/him - she/he just bruises easily and exaggerates – it wasn't really that hard

If I don't control her/him, she'll/he'll control me

It takes two to tango

If she would only do... I wouldn't get so angry