Shockingly large numbers of women and men find themselves in abusive marriages. Most stay in denial for a long time because abuse -- insistence on power and control, with or without physical violence -- evolves so gradually. Eventually the entire family walks on eggshells, suffering stress, pain, and isolation. Getting out of the nightmare takes amazing courage. Filing for separation and/or divorce can be dangerous. Not doing so might be worse. Sometimes a restraining order is needed. In court, abused spouses quickly learn that the legal system is not about justice. It’s about how you play the
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