Strong, intelligent women are not targeted despite their strength.They are often targeted because of it.

Here’s why, clearly and without myth. 1. Strength Looks Like a Resource to a Predator Abusive personalities don’t look for “weakness” in the way people imagine. They scan for: To them, this signals: “This person can absorb pressure, adapt, and keep functioning.” That’s not romance. That’s resource assessment. 2. Intelligence Enables Rationalisation (Early On) Highly intelligent… Read More Strong, intelligent women are not targeted despite their strength.They are often targeted because of it.

Threat Detection

This manoeuvre has a name and a function. What this tactic is called It sits at the intersection of: In domestic-abuse and coercive-control literature, it’s often described as“restricting the victim’s social world to control the narrative.” What’s really happening psychologically When someone says something like: “I don’t think it’s a good idea for your sister-in-law… Read More Threat Detection

Rejected Appeals

1. Why Courts Deny Appeals to Drop Restraining Orders Courts rarely remove restraining orders lightly because the safety of the protected person is paramount. Before considering removal, they typically review: Courts are not punitive against the person restricted; they are preventive, focusing on reducing risk. 2. Why Dropping a Restraining Order Can Be Dangerous Even if someone seems… Read More Rejected Appeals

Calm truth

There was never anyone else.I returned from holiday with my family — my children and grandchildren. Nothing more, nothing hidden. The idea of a “mystery man” was a story used to discredit me. In reality, he had another partner while using my hard-earned money and restricting my access to my own finances. For decades, I… Read More Calm truth

When Families Know About Abuse

One of the reasons many survivors don’t speak out sooner is simple:they already know they won’t be supported. In some families, the abuse isn’t a secret.It has been seen before.Hints have been dropped.Incidents have been witnessed, minimised, or quietly explained away. Instead of intervening, the family: This silence isn’t neutral.It’s a choice. Why This Keeps… Read More When Families Know About Abuse

When Families Know About Abuse — and Choose Silence

One of the reasons many survivors don’t speak out sooner is simple:they already know they won’t be supported. In some families, the abuse isn’t a secret.It has been seen before.Hints have been dropped.Incidents have been witnessed, minimised, or quietly explained away. Instead of intervening, the family: This silence isn’t neutral.It’s a choice. Why This Keeps… Read More When Families Know About Abuse — and Choose Silence

Exposing the Abuser (No Sugar-Coating)

Let’s start with the truth most survivors are pressured not to say: Abusers rely on silence, minimisation, and “being the bigger person.”Protection of abusers is one of the most socially normalised forms of harm. 1. Abuse Is Not “Loss of Control” — It Is Selective Control Abusers: Then claim: “I just snapped”“I’m blunt”“I was stressed”“That’s just how I… Read More Exposing the Abuser (No Sugar-Coating)

Do abusers ever look outside the box and imagine it happening to their own loved ones?

Most do not — and when they do, it is usually abstract, not empathic. 1. Empathy is compartmentalised, not absent Contrary to popular belief, many abusers are not “emotionless.” They can show selective empathy — especially toward people they identify with or feel ownership over (their mother, daughter, family name). Neuroscience shows this as compartmentalisation in the brain: So… Read More Do abusers ever look outside the box and imagine it happening to their own loved ones?