The most dangerous time for an abused woman is when she tries to leave. You need a plan and you need to have important items ready to go. Important papers like birth certificate, phone numbers of people you trust. Any money you have managed to save. You need to know where to go and how will you get there. Are you in the USA? If so go to the website The National Domestic Violence Hotline | 24/7 Confidential Support on a computer at a library or somewhere where he can't see your browsing history. If you have the opportunity to use a phone you can call 1-800-799-7233.

You can ask a police officer for transportation to a domestic violence shelter. The shelter helped me prepare the papers for a restraining order and sent an attorney to court with me at no cost to me.

It is indeed a cycle and the abuse gets worse. I was confused too because I was in love with a Jekyll and Hyde who was the best man and the worst man I ever knew. I thought love was enough to fix things but it wasn't.