Freedom from Abuse: A Psychological Perspective on Healing One Day at a Time

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate

Freedom from abuse is not just the absence of harm—it’s the beginning of a journey back to yourself. It’s the quiet realization that you deserve peace, safety, and joy. But after leaving an abusive situation—whether it was emotional, psychological, physical, or a combination—many survivors find themselves asking: What now?

The answer, from a psychological perspective, is simple but profound: take each day at a time.

One Day at a Time

Trauma doesn’t unravel in a day, and neither does healing. Abuse rewires the brain, reshapes the nervous system, and leaves emotional imprints that don’t disappear overnight. This is why “taking one day at a time” isn’t just a cliché—it’s a trauma-informed approach.

In the aftermath of abuse, your brain is often still in survival mode. The limbic system—the emotional brain—has been overactivated, and the prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for logic and planning—can be clouded by fear and stress. Daily life can feel overwhelming. Decisions can feel impossible. But when you focus on just this day, just this moment, it becomes manageable.

Each small step forward—getting out of bed, making a cup of tea, saying no when something doesn’t feel right—is a victory. These seemingly small moments are actually part of the brain’s rewiring. They’re evidence that your nervous system is slowly beginning to feel safe again.

You Don’t Owe Anyone Your Story

There’s a lot of pressure in modern society to tell your story—to post it online, to speak out, to turn pain into inspiration. But here’s a psychological truth: you don’t owe anyone your story until you’re ready.

Your story is sacred. It belongs to you. You are allowed to keep it close until your nervous system feels calm enough to release it. For some, speaking out is empowering. For others, it’s retraumatizing. There is no timeline. The right time is when you feel ready.

When You Are Ready

When you do choose to share your story—whether it’s with a therapist, in a support group, with a trusted friend, or publicly—it can be a profoundly healing experience. Telling your truth helps reintegrate parts of your identity that may have been buried under manipulation, fear, or shame. It can shift trauma from something that silently controls your inner world to something that has been acknowledged, witnessed, and validated.

From a psychological point of view, storytelling is a form of meaning-making. It helps survivors make sense of what happened, and to locate their strength, resilience, and courage in the middle of it all. In neuroscience, we call this post-traumatic growth: the idea that, over time, we can transform pain into power.

The Freedom You’re Creating

Every day you choose yourself—your peace, your boundaries, your voice—you are reclaiming your life. That isfreedom. You might not feel “free” right away. That’s okay. Freedom after abuse can feel foreign at first, even frightening. But slowly, you will begin to trust your own choices. You’ll notice your body relaxing. You’ll smile more. You’ll laugh again. You’ll feel safe in your own skin.

And eventually, if you want to, you might share your story. Not because you need to prove anything—but because you’ve taken the time to heal, and now you want others to know that healing is possible.

Take each day as it comes. Listen to your body. Trust your timing.

You are not alone.

— Linda C J Turner

Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment