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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