DIGEST THIS 

Let me repeat, from Chapter 4: The beast DOES have an Achilles Heel.

It's weakness  is anyone or anything that would bring attention to it's true nature. 

 It does not want people outside of the family unit to identify or to witness it's feeding cycle because it's purpose is to feed and the cycle is it's thumb print.  If it is identified by the public it is instinctively rejected by the greater community, and just like white blood cells will rush to eradicate a virus, so will a healthy human community rush in to help a captive family.

THE THUMB  PRINT

It is important to know if you are dealing with the DV beast or if your abusive family member has a different issue.  There are other struggles that can cause abuse in a family: anger problems, drug or alcohol addictions, past trauma experienced by the abuser, etc.. It is also not unusual for there to be secondary issues along with domestic violence.  If there is any element of domestic violence, then you need to treat the entire abusive situation as domestic violence first, substance abuse issues second, and other issues afterwards.

If you are confused about whether you are experiencing domestic violence, go back and study the Feeding Cycle (Chapter 3).  It is an easy diagnosis. You are most likely living with domestic violence if you experience the basics of the pattern listed below: 

• Abuse
• Rationalizing the abusive behavior/blame (it's never the abuser's fault),
• Normal (everything goes back to normal, abuser acts as if nothing happened)
• Repeat

While ANY abuse needs to be dealt with swiftly and children protected, the victims of domestic violence are in THE MOST DANGER when they are trying to get help or leave the abuse. I'm here to tell you the truth:  All those fears you have of leaving the abuse are valid.  Should you even try then?  ABSOLUTELY!  If you have any life left in you, you have no other choice if you want to regain any quality of life, or if you want to live period.  If you have children - you are their greatest and possibly only hope. 

YOU CAN DO THIS and I will show you how.