He wouldn't believe I hadn't gone out on him, and nothing I could say would convince him. I thought I could just put up with the other crap. They feel ashamed, blaming themselves for the actual battering. Their fear of retaliation inhibits disclosing the source of their injuries. Another victim-related barrier to seeking help is traumatic bonding, which involves clinging to her abusive partner, hoping that he will change as he often promises.
Anxiety causes clinging and a search for human comfort.
Clinging is a normal response to trauma. The batterer's repeated promises to change and cease his violence add to the hope of the battered woman, although his emotional and physical abuse are unchanging. When a victim is traumatized, she does not perceive nay available options. Staying in the battering relationships seems like her only alternative. She also may have a type of addiction to her partner, falsely believing that she can't live without him.