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.
When a person is prepared to physically injure you to stop you from seeing the truth, this is not anger.
This is not emotional reactivity.… Read More This Wasn’t Love, It Was Captivity: Understanding Coercive Control
Understanding How Control Progresses Into Danger
Coercive control rarely begins with overt violence. It follows predictable psychological and behavioural stages, escalating gradually as dominance increases and resistance threatens the controller’s power.… Read More Recognising Coercive Control: From Subtle Control to Lethal Risk
Understanding the Different Forms of Abuse — and the Signs to Look For
Abuse is not always obvious.
It isn’t always physical, and it doesn’t always leave visible injuries. Abuse can involve patterns of behaviour designed to control, intimidate, manipulate, isolate, humiliate or undermine another person.
A person may also experience more than one type of abuse at the same time.
Recognising the signs can be an important first step towards understanding what is happening.
Important: The presence of one indicator on its own should not be taken as proof that abuse is occurring. However, it may indicate that further assessment is needed. The examples below are not exhaustive, and individual circumstances should always be considered.… Read More Types and Indicators of Abuse
Abuse often starts subtly, with minor behaviors that can escalate into harmful patterns impacting safety and mental health. Rooted in power and control rather than anger, it can manifest as emotional harm, intimidation, and physical aggression. Recognizing these patterns is crucial to prioritizing one’s wellbeing and fostering safe relationships.… Read More When Love Feels Unsafe: Recognising the Hidden Patterns of Abuse
Abuse thrives in secrecy.
Whether it is physical violence, coercive control, emotional abuse, financial abuse or sexual abuse, perpetrators often rely on silence to continue their behaviour.
When victims are discouraged from speaking, or when those around them minimise what they disclose, the abusive behaviour can become more frequent, more severe and more dangerous.
Silence is not a solution.… Read More “Keep It in the Family” Can Be Dangerous: Why Silence Protects Abuse, Not Victims
The honest and evidence-based answer is: You can love someone with ASPD, but that love may not be emotionally or physically safe — especially if violence is involved.And safety, not love, must come first. 🧠 What is ASPD? Antisocial Personality Disorder is a serious and often misunderstood condition characterized by: Not everyone with ASPD is… Read More 💔 Can You Love Someone with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) — Especially If They’re Violent?
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.”
Trauma • Neuroscience • Emotional Intelligence • Women's Empowerment 