TENSION BUILDING PHASE

Increased tension, anger, blaming and arguing.

ACUTE BATTERING PHASE 

            Hitting, choking, slapping, kicking, choking, use of objects or  weapons, sexual abuse, verbal threats and abuse.

 CALMING PHASE

            May decrease over time, denial of violence, excuses, apologies, victim blaming, promises of it never happening again.

 CYCLE OF VIOLENCE

THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP