 the stigma of divorce and separation from the children. Women explained that they were afraid to end this kind of life, and if they were divorced, they would be denied their children or a normal status in society. The women described psychological and emotional consequences, low self-esteem and social isolation due to different forms of abuse. The women were able to describe their "deep-down" feelings in detail, and with courage, they described the degree of their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and the stage of their despair. Feelings of helplessness made some of the women unable to execute their roles as wife and mother. 