Anonymous wrote:If the abuser is determined to stop the abuser and get help then there is hope. The victim can only hope to escape.
Anonymous wrote:No, no one should stay in an abusive relationship. If not for the physical abuse but the mental abuse that leads up to the physical abuse.
Anonymous wrote:I'm a DV survivor and a prosecutor who routinely handles DV cases. The "party line" in the criminal justice system is "once an abuser, always an abuser." I think the reality is slightly more nuanced. I strongly believe that it's possible to have a single, minor, isolated DV incident that's truly anomalous. By "minor," I mean something like a push or grabbing an arm roughly. That said, if you've experienced multiple incidents, or any one incident was serious (it left real bruising, a weapon was used or threatened, the assault involved strangulation or grabbing at your throat, any comment/threat about ending your life), I don't think you can overcome that. I've lived through it in my personal life and it will just get increasingly serious and frequent. And regardless of how much he tries, you'll never be able to look at your partner and not see the guy who hit you because you did [insert stupid BS that upset him here].
One more thing...people on DCUM are quick to recommend anger management and therapy for perpetrators of DV. There is no evidence that this type of treatment works. There are real, certified DV treatment programs. They're often called Abuser/Batterer Intervention Programs. They're not perfect, but they're certainly more effective than individual therapy and anger management programs.
Anonymous wrote:I have friends who had five good years after he stopped drinking. When he hit her again (actually, it was more than that), she had just had their third kid (second after the reconciliation). I used to tell people about them as a miraculous success story. He has PTSD, and in retrospect, there were a lot of problems.
Another, very young friend, also went back to her very new husband (also very young) after he promised to stop drinking. They've had a great year, but I'm still nervous for her.
How would anyone know for sure they could successfully overcome it?