It's never just to leave an abusive situation, you escape it. Sometimes, it takes several attempts to successfully do so, while it's often also the most dangerous phase of the abuse since the abuser will do everything in their power not only to prevent you from leaving, but also to maintain the control over you, the narrative and their public image. Abuse is not always sudden - psychological abuse might be a slow and conditioning process where it's increased over long periods of time and the victim gets methodically broken down and isolated. Sometimes, the victim won't even realize they were abused until later, and find themselves stripped of their former self in a situation completely controlled by the abuser. Then you're already emotionally invested in the relationship, might have moved in together, married and have children with them which makes the situation even more complicated. Shaming and judgement regarding why you didn't leave sooner, saw the red flags, spoke up or reported i