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Honeymoon
- Abuser may seem charming and charismatic
- Abuser will manipulate the victim with promises, gifts or emotions
- Victim may feel love or mixed emotions for abuser
Tension Building
- Victim feels as though they are walking on egg shells
- There may be increased verbal & emotional abuse, isolation & threats
- Victim and abuser may minimize tension & abuse
- Abuser may increase blame
Abusive Incident
- Abuser feels a loss of control
- Abusive incident(s) occurs - physical, verbal or emotional
- Victim experiences and responds to trauma
- the environment feels unpredictable
Reconciliation
- Abuser may apologize for abuse
- Abuser may admit or deny wrong doing
- Abuser may promise a future without abuse
- Abuser may promise to change or seek help
- Abuser will blame the victim