Quote Originally Posted by sparks19
.

it is a very touchy situation and I always wondered how someone could possibly stay in a situation like that and not see what is being done to them.... after being in a abusive relationship (not physically but verbally and emotionally) you don't really KNOW it's happening.... they brainwash you to believe it is your fault.... and you believe them.

So just be there for her and gently alert her to what is going on but ultimately she has to wake up and see the light in her own mind.
I think you're right. She kept telling me that had she stop talking back at him & left the room before he could get to the point of hitting her, she could have prevented it from happening. She thinks she must have provoked him somehow, otherwise he wouldn't be hurting her.