Abuse is a term that refers to the mistreatment, harm, or infliction of injury on someone, either through physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, or other means. Abuse can occur in various contexts, including relationships, families, institutions, and broader social settings. It is a serious violation of an individual’s rights and can have profound and lasting effects on their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
One of the most difficult things to explain about abuse is how quickly it can change a person’s sense of themselves. It can happen in minutes. A person who was confident, capable and independent can suddenly find themselves frightened, confused, humiliated and desperately trying to make sense of what is happening. It isn’t because they… Read More How an Abuser Can Make You Feel Like Nothing
Different types of abuse An important point Abuse is often a pattern rather than one isolated incident. A person may experience several forms simultaneously—for example, physical violence combined with financial abuse, sexual coercion, isolation, gaslighting and coercive control. And abuse is not always visible. Some of the most damaging forms can leave no physical marks while profoundly… Read More Different types of abuse
Beginning a new relationship should be exciting, but it is also important to protect yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. You have every right to ask questions, take things slowly, and make informed decisions about your safety. Many people don’t realise that in some countries there are official schemes that allow you… Read More Starting a New Relationship? Here’s How You Can Check if Your New Partner Has a History of Domestic Abuse
There is something I want people to understand. When someone says they are leaving an abusive relationship, please don’t respond with: “Lots of people get divorced.” “It’s irreconcilable differences.” “Put the house on the market.” “Sell the property and move on.” Because for many survivors, it was never simply a marriage that failed. It was… Read More “It’s Not Just a Divorce. It’s the End of Surviving.”
If there is one lesson my own experience has taught me, it is this: Choose very carefully who you confide in when you are living with abuse. When I finally spoke about what was happening behind closed doors, I hoped someone would ask a simple question: “Are you okay?” “Do you need somewhere safe to… Read More One Lesson I Learned the Hard Way
When I began documenting what had happened to me, I made a promise to myself. No stone would be left unturned. Every document would be preserved. Every photograph. Every medical record. Every psychological assessment. Every email. Every text message. Every WhatsApp conversation. Every witness. Every piece of evidence. If it is relevant, it deserves to… Read More No Stone Left Unturned
Choosing the right lawyer may be one of the most important decisions you make after leaving an abusive relationship. Not every lawyer has experience dealing with cases involving coercive control, domestic abuse, complex trauma or long-term patterns of psychological harm. While many are excellent family lawyers, your case may require someone who understands far more… Read More Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Abuse Case
For many perpetrators, the divorce decree or financial settlement feels like the final chapter. They believe the marriage is over, the paperwork has been signed, and they have escaped accountability. They assume that because the relationship has legally ended, the abuse has been buried with it. But for some survivors, that is not the end… Read More When They Think They’ve Got Away With It
One of the biggest misconceptions about domestic abuse is that once the divorce is final and the financial settlement has been agreed, everything is over. It isn’t. A divorce legally ends a marriage. A financial settlement divides assets and resolves financial claims between spouses. Neither necessarily addresses the physical, emotional or psychological harm caused by… Read More Can You Still Take Your Abuse Case to Court After the Divorce and Financial Settlement?
For generations, domestic abuse was often viewed as a “private family matter.” Unless there were visible injuries, many survivors were dismissed, disbelieved, or told to simply “work things out.” Today, the courts are beginning to recognise a truth that survivors have always known: abuse leaves wounds that cannot always be seen. A recent Canadian court… Read More The Hidden Wounds of Domestic Abuse: Why Justice Must Recognise More Than Bruises
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 