The Body Never Lies — Even When Others Do
So often, when survivors try to speak about the fear or discomfort they’re feeling in a relationship, they’re met with:
👉 “You’re overreacting.”
👉 “It doesn’t seem that bad.”
👉 “He’s family—he’d never hurt you.”
👉 “You’re being too sensitive.”
But here’s the truth—danger is not always visible to others. It doesn’t always leave bruises. And it certainly isn’t always confirmed by the people closest to the abuser.
If you’re constantly told you’re safe, but your body is screaming otherwise…
You are not crazy. You are not wrong. You are sensing danger before it’s too late.
🧠The Neuroscience of Knowing
When your brain detects danger, even before your conscious mind catches up, it activates your threat detection system:
- 💥 Your amygdala sends the signal: Something is not right.
- ⚡ Your nervous system releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare you for survival.
- đź’“ You feel it: rapid heartbeat, churning stomach, sweaty palms, tight chest, shallow breath.
- 🌪️ You may experience panic, freezing, zoning out, or a desperate urge to run.
This is your body protecting you. It remembers what your conscious mind may be trying to rationalize or deny.
🧍‍♀️ Your Story is Your Power
“I walked away in the middle of the night. Alone. Three kilometres through dark alleys and empty streets. And I felt safer doing that than staying in a house with the person who claimed to love me.”
This isn’t just courage.
This is neuroception—your brain and body detecting danger even without obvious external signs.
When you say:
“I felt less in danger outside alone than inside with him.”
That’s your body accurately registering that the true threat wasn’t the night—it was the environment you were escaping.
⚠️ When “Protection” Isn’t Protection
It’s often those closest to the abuser who try to rewrite your reality.
They say things like:
- “Just let things calm down.”
- “It’s not that serious.”
- “You’re making drama.”
But these words often come from denial, shame, or a need to maintain appearances—not from a place of truth or concern for your safety.
Never let someone else’s comfort cost you your freedom, your sanity, or your life.
🧠Psychological Insight: Safety is a Felt Sense
Real safety feels like:
- Relaxed shoulders
- Calm breath
- A soft belly
- Deep sleep
- Trust, not tension
Danger feels like:
- Stomach acid
- Racing thoughts
- Holding your breath
- Palpitations
- Dread in your chest
You don’t need permission to leave.
You only need to trust what your body already knows.
✨ Final Words for Survivors
If your body is whispering, or screaming, “This isn’t safe,”
Believe it.
It may take you months, years, or decades to walk away—just as it did for many of us. But there will come a moment when the fear of staying outweighs the fear of leaving.
And when that moment comes?
🦋 You will rise.
đź’ˇ You will walk.
đź’Ş And you will reclaim yourself.
Even if it’s 3 kilometers through the dark.
Even if no one claps when you go.
Even if you’re shaking.
Your safety is worth everything.
Your body knows. Trust it.
— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
