Having written hundreds of columns and articles in my career, most notably on issues related to domestic violence, I find my biggest obstacle in producing fresh material is trying to break new ground or revisit old topics with updated information.

As writing is not my profession and having exhausted my creative juices, I must rely on some level of inspiration to produce something worthy of publication.

Inspiration presents itself from a variety of sources. I wrote an article several years ago based on a slogan I read on a video game in a pizza parlor. Others have come from discussions or simple words or phrases spoken by individuals.

In my office, I have the radio tuned to a rock station. As I was working on a report recently, a line from a song jumped out at me with sufficient resonance I was inspired to write this piece.

The specific line that settled into my psyche and prompted this commentary was, “You’re my favorite disease.”

I don’t know what the song was about or what the writer had in mind when he penned these lyrics, but given the remainder of the song, I doubt there was much socially redeeming value to it.

It was helpful that at the moment I heard this song, I was typing a report from a case that involved a young couple that had prior exposure to the criminal justice system involving domestic violence. After interviewing the young lady who was victimized in this case, it occurred to me this was not an anomaly as I have been presented with several like cases recently in which other young couples found themselves similarly situated.

I am not talking about the usual case in which one person is charged with committing a domestic violence offense against another and that is the end of the story. The cases I am referring involve couples who, after going through an arrest and prosecution for a domestic violence offense, reunite long enough for the same or the other person to be charged in a whole new case.

I cannot rule out the fact that I work in a small county and am bound to see familiar names in police reports, but this is more than simple recidivism. I am witnessing a true phenomenon that has a unique twist to it.

As the lyric implies, we are talking about people who are truly addicted to each other. I comfortably use the word “addicted” as it implies a bad habit.

As most of these toxic relationships often end with a police response, I would say it meets the definition of a bad habit.

There is another component when using terms such as bad habit and addiction, and that is the uncontrollable and indescribable desire for more.

Despite admonishment from judges, advice from counselors, warnings from police and my best professional and personal lecturing, all is quickly forgotten after the first case is resolved and we have the “moths to the flames” syndrome. It appears the more effort we put into keeping them apart, the harder they fight to get back together — with predictable results.

Aside from conducting my regular investigation, I attempt to get a better understanding of the dynamics of each case presented to me. A quick review of the particulars of these relationships reveals some interesting data. Most are in their 20s, with many starting their relationship in their teens. Only one couple had been married, with most having a child together.

Although children are almost always present in these cases, they are rarely the cause for the draw between these individuals.

One young lady made a profound and surprisingly astute assessment of the situation when, in describing the relationship with her partner, she said: When it is good, it is very good. When it is bad, it is very bad.

In my current case list, I have several such cases in which each party in these relationships has been charged with assaulting the other at one time. In one case, the couple was trying once again to reconcile and make a go of it.

In the remaining cases, the couples were currently apart after having gone back and forth repeatedly over the years. It still didn’t stop them from exhibiting a certain degree of physicality with each other sufficient to get one of them arrested.

It is not my intention to place blame on either party in these cases for the abuse inflicted or received. I am merely bringing to light a unique dynamic involving domestic violence that defies logic and common sense.

Is there an understandable or recognizable explanation for this phenomenon? Are they gluttons for pain and anguish? Are they ignorant to civil accord and adult relationships? Is there a medical or psychological reason for this behavior? Were they exposed to domestic violence as children or are they simply addicted to each other?

Regardless of the reason, each have children growing up in and exposed to less than desirable conditions — children who have had both of their parents arrested for assaulting the other, more often than not in the presence of the children.

This would make fascinating research for a thesis if someone were so inclined.

In the meantime, I will take inspiration wherever I can get it and continue to share information about domestic violence so we all can better understand the issue.

Heaven knows I am still trying.

STEVE EDMONDSON is domestic violence investigator for Sagadahoc County.