Secrets protect the abuser

Recognizing what is going on is the first steop and its so hard becasue we shield the guy or gal who begins treating us badly--NO MORE SECRETS and then we can really start making progress.

The Gazette-Enterprise: "The symptoms of abuse include intimidation through the use of threats, power misuse and control.

Some of the most common forms of domestic abuse are mental and physical abuse, but domestic violence can occur through other avenues, including coercion or threats, the use of intimidation, by being forcibly isolated from friends and family and even by minimizing the victims access to the family income.

Recognizing the symptoms is the first step to finding a way out and getting the help needed to escape the cruelty of abuse."