1. Neutral Acknowledgment (This acknowledges their feelings without invalidating yours.) 2. State Your Boundary 3. Redirect to Support 4. Limit Engagement 5. Internal Validation Example Phrases You Can Use Verbally or in Text 💡 Tip: Keep these phrases short and simple. Repeat as needed. Do not justify or argue, because minimisers often try to trap you into defending… Read More Safe Script for People in Denial or Avoidance
What’s Really Happening Why Their Reaction Doesn’t Reflect Reality How to Protect Yourself Key Takeaway Some people simply cannot face the reality of abuse. Their avoidance or denial is about them, not you. Protect your safety, seek support, and do not rely on acknowledgment from those in denial.
1. Keep it Simple You don’t need to explain or justify your feelings. 2. Set Boundaries If someone starts downplaying the abuse: 3. Stick to Facts Minimisers often try to inject doubt. Ground your words in what happened, not speculation: 4. Avoid Arguments People who minimise rarely change their view. Protect your energy: 5. Lean on… Read More What to Say to Minimisers of Strangulation or Abuse
Strangulation is not just “a scary moment”. It is a direct, intentional threat to life, even if the person survives. 1. Life-Threatening Behavior 2. Minimisation Adds Harm When someone says things like: “I doubt he would kill you”“It’s probably not that bad” It often has these effects: 3. Why Outsiders Don’t Understand 4. The Survivor’s Truth 5. Practical Advice Bottom line: People who… Read More Why Minimising Strangulation is Dangerous
1. Trauma-Focused Therapy 2. Medical and Neuropsychological Support 3. Psychosocial Support 🔒 Safety Planning After Strangulation Safety planning is essential — survivors are at high risk of escalation or repeat abuse. Immediate Safety Steps Ongoing Risk Reduction Professional Coordination ⚠️ Key Takeaways
Here’s a clear, evidence-based overview of what research shows about non-fatal strangulation — including how common it is, how it affects survivors physically and psychologically, and what we know about how it impacts the person doing the strangulation (to the extent research addresses that). This is grounded in scientific literature and public health data. 📊 Statistics & Prevalence Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) is recognised… Read More Statistics & Prevalence
Talking about strangulation in therapy is not just “talking about a memory.”For many survivors, describing the sensations, fear, and loss of control can reactivate the trauma itself. This is not resistance.It is how the nervous system remembers danger. Why Describing It Feels Overwhelming Strangulation is a primal threat to survival. When it happened, the brain and body… Read More Talking About Strangulation in Therapy: Why It’s So Hard — and How EMDR Can Help
The Short Answer Why Strangulation Is Different Strangulation isn’t an impulsive shove or shouted argument. It is: Research consistently shows that non-fatal strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of future severe violence and homicide. Once someone has crossed that line, the risk profile changes permanently. Is It the Situation or the Person? It is the person.… Read More Strangulation is not about the situation.It is about the person who chooses to use it.
If you are ill, medicated, exhausted, or hospitalised and someone is pushing you to sign documents, transfer assets, or grant Power of Attorney, stop immediately. This is not help.This is risk. Why This Is Dangerous Illness reduces capacity — even temporarily. Pain, medication, fear, and fatigue impair judgment. Decisions made in this state are not fully informed, no… Read More Pressurised While Ill or Hospitalised — Read This First
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 