The reasons women stay in abusive relationships are very complicated. There are a wide range of emotional feelings that allow the abuse to continue and prevent the woman from leaving. Here are a few reasons that women stay in an abusive relationship:

• Fear - Women fear the physical harm that might come if they attempt to leave.
• Love - Women may truly have deep feelings for the abusive partner.
• Promises - Promises that this abuse will never happen again.
• Abuse = Love - Confusion between being loved and being controlled by their partner.
• Guilt - Being made to think that the abuse is their fault, that they have the problem.
• Not Being Believed - A strong fear that nobody will believe them if they speak out against the abuse.
• Thinking They Can Change Them - The belief that over time the woman can change the abusive partner.
• Low Self-Esteem - After being in an abusive relationship there is a feeling that they can do no better than their current relationship.
• Being Alone - To end the relationship could mean a loss of mutual friends, relatives and others associated with the relationship.
• Financial - Money, children and no place to go also hold women in these relationships.