There is a moment in every survivor’s story when survival turns into freedom.
Today, I am in a safe place.
I have a restraining order protecting me for the next year.
I am backed by police protection.
And for the first time in a very long time… I can breathe without fear.
This is not a story of weakness or victimhood.
This is a story of strength, resilience, and the psychology of taking your power back.
💔 From Fear to Freedom: Understanding the Impact of Psychological Abuse
For many survivors of abuse, especially those who have endured emotional, psychological, and physical violence, the world becomes a place of hypervigilance.
Your nervous system stays on high alert.
You second-guess yourself constantly.
You feel responsible for the abuse.
And when others don’t believe you—or worse, blame you—your sense of reality can start to shatter.
But hear this loud and clear:
You are not crazy. You are trauma-informed.
🧠 The Psychology of Breaking Free
What you’ve done—getting a restraining order, involving the police, creating a secure environment—is more than a legal step.
It’s a psychological milestone.
- You’ve activated your prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain that manages rational decision-making and future planning.
- You’ve begun calming your overactive amygdala, which was wired for constant fear and threat detection during the abuse.
- You are retraining your nervous system to feel safety, not fear… connection, not control… peace, not punishment.
This is post-traumatic growth in action.
🚨 Why Police Protection Matters
Some survivors hesitate to involve the police or get restraining orders out of fear of escalation or being disbelieved. And in many cases, that fear is valid.
But when you finally reach the point where you say:
“No more. I choose me.”
You shift from survival mode into protective empowerment.
A restraining order is not just a document.
It’s a declaration.
It says: I will not allow your chaos in my life anymore.
🧘♀️ What Safety Feels Like
It’s not just about being far from the abuser.
It’s about feeling safe in your body again.
🌀 Sleeping without waking in panic
🌿 Eating without a knot in your stomach
✨ Laughing without guilt
🛌 Resting without needing to explain yourself
🕊️ Sitting in silence without bracing for a blow
These are the little victories we must celebrate, because they are huge in the trauma healing process.
💬 If You’re Still in the Storm…
Please know there is a way out.
There is help, support, and legal protection.
You are never too broken, too late, or too far gone to start again.
You deserve a life of:
- Safety
- Freedom
- Joy
- Dignity
You deserve to wake up and not worry if someone’s mood will destroy your day—or your spirit.
🧡 A Message of Hope
To the brave souls just beginning this journey:
You are stronger than you know.
You are wiser than you were told.
You are worth every boundary you put in place.
And you are allowed to protect your peace at all costs.
This is not just recovery. This is a revolution of self-love.
— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
