If you, a family member, or a friend, is being abused in ANY way, reach out, speak up, and leave... IT WILL NOT CHANGE, HE/SHE will NOT change, getting married, having a child, buying a house together....WILL NOT CHANGE HIM/HER or the relationship....

Trust me, I know from personal experience... if the person you are with abused an ex girfriend or wife, verbally, emotionally, and physically BUT THEY TELL YOU THAT "YOU ARE DIFFERENT", I would never do that to you", DON'T BELIEVE THEM, BECAUSE THEY WILL ABUSE YOU ALSO.... They will blame the ex for THEIR BEHAVIOR, THIS IS CLASSIC BEHAVIOR OF ABUSERS...someday they will blame you for abusing you as well.

You aren't "different", you are just "new". Abusers REPEAT THEIR BEHAVIOR. When you are no longer "new", they will treat you the same way they treated the exes...

http://www.omsys.com/fivers/lola.htm