A DASH report in the UK refers to the Domestic Abuse, Stalking, and Harassment (DASH) Risk Identification Checklist (RIC). It is a structured tool used by police, social services, and domestic abuse support workers to assess the risk level faced by a victim of domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, or “honour”-based violence. What Does a DASH Report Show? The… Read More DASH report
A Life Without Control: Embracing Family, Freedom, and Joy For years, family visits were marred by tension, control, and double standards. What should have been moments of love and connection were instead overshadowed by complaints, ungratefulness, and manipulation. My partner’s rigid rules dictated every visit, limiting the time my family could stay and ensuring their… Read More A Life Without Control: Embracing Family, Freedom, and Joy
Questioning Integrity: The Warning Signs of a Troubled Family Dynamic Last night, a conversation with a long-term friend reminded me of a crucial lesson in life: integrity matters. When assessing the people we deal with, particularly within families, certain warning signs should not be ignored. One of the biggest red flags? The presence of a… Read More Questioning Integrity: The Warning Signs of a Troubled Family Dynamic
From the very first morning, everything was a catastrophe. From the weather to a bad night’s sleep, from aches and pains to exaggerated health problems, his entire world revolved around negativity. At first, I thought it was just a phase, something that would pass with time. But as the days turned into years, I realized… Read More Recognising Red Flags
The Return of Me: A Work in Progress For the first time in over three decades, I woke up feeling like my old self—the person I was before life took an unexpected and painful turn. After a solid ten-hour sleep, I opened my eyes with a sense of peace I hadn’t known in years. The… Read More The Return of Me: A Work in Progress
Healing after three decades of abuse isn’t something that happens overnight, but it will happen—and it won’t take three more decades to undo the damage. Healing is not about erasing the past but about reclaiming your future and rebuilding yourself in a way that was never possible while you were trapped in the abuse. How Long Does It… Read More Two Year and more
Seeing the abuse laid out in black and white—incident after incident, year after year—makes it impossible to minimize or justify anymore. It’s no longer just a feeling of something wasn’t right; it becomes undeniable evidence of what you endured. Having your psychologist review it and validate that it was ongoing for over 30 years must have been both… Read More Journaling
What is Cognitive Dissonance? Cognitive dissonance is a psychological state where a person holds two or more conflicting thoughts, beliefs, or values, creating mental discomfort. To reduce this discomfort, people often justify, minimize, or rationalize their conflicting beliefs rather than change them. In an abusive relationship, cognitive dissonance occurs when the victim experiences both love and fear toward… Read More What is Cognitive Dissonance?
A trauma bond is an emotional attachment that forms between a victim and an abuser due to cycles of abuse followed by intermittent kindness or affection. It’s a psychological response to prolonged mistreatment, where the victim becomes dependent on the abuser despite the harm inflicted. How Does a Trauma Bond Form? Trauma bonds develop when: Intermittent Reinforcement –… Read More How Does a Trauma Bond Form?
