Insight Isn’t Enough to Leave; Embodiment Is
On average, it takes an individual experiencing Intimate Partner Violence seven attempts to leave, not one.
The 1st time, "It’s my fault." The 2nd time, "It's not that bad." The 3rd time, "I can’t manage on my own." The 4th time, "Things will get better when..." The 5th time, "I’m the only one who understands them." The 6th time, "If I just do what they say, it will all change." The 7th time, "They love me but have a hard time showing it."
On average, it takes an individual experiencing Intimate Partner Violence seven attempts to leave, not one.
Intimate Partner Violence leaves marks deep into the fabric of one's psychological and physiological makeup. For those who have experienced IPV, you may remember the pattern of switching between feeling the extremes of anxiety and detachment. It is a cycle that becomes a static survival tactic, designed by your body to endure the unimaginable - being harmed by the person who says they love you.
As a therapist, I don’t need to reference what I know professionally to provide psychoeducation on Intimate Partner Violence - I simply need to go back into my history - my healing.