Tag: life

Practical Healing Steps: Learning to Feel Safe with Intimacy Again

Healing after inconsistent affection, emotional dismissal, or sexual pressure involves rebuilding safety, autonomy, and trust in yourself. Recognise withdrawal as protective, practise boundaries, explore non-sexual touch gradually, and distinguish calm from anxiety. Grounding, self-compassion, consistent respect, trauma-informed therapy, and patience can support recovery. Intimacy should remain freely chosen, never owed or forced.… Read More Practical Healing Steps: Learning to Feel Safe with Intimacy Again

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Sexual and Emotional Withholding as Punishment

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment ©Linda C J Turner © 2025 Linda Carol Turner. Content protected by copyright.
Reproduction or redistribution in any form requires prior written permission from the author.
When quoting or referencing, please cite: Linda Carol Turner, Psychology & Neuroscience Insights.

When affection, intimacy and physical closeness become instruments of power, rejection and control in a relationship. Introduction: When affection becomes conditional Intimacy is an important part of many relationships. It can provide reassurance, connection, pleasure, comfort and a sense of being wanted. But what happens when affection disappears whenever one partner disagrees, challenges the other,… Read More Sexual and Emotional Withholding as Punishment

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Shame, Humiliation and the Psychology of Retaliation

The article explains how shame, humiliation, rejection and threatened self-esteem can contribute to anger, blame, retaliation and coercive control, while stressing that these reactions do not establish a diagnosis or justify harm. It distinguishes accountability from retaliation, highlights post-separation abuse and boundary erosion, and emphasizes survivors’ right to safety, autonomy and independence.… Read More Shame, Humiliation and the Psychology of Retaliation

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The Psychology of ASPD: Empathy, Remorse, Attachment, Control and Conscience

The text distinguishes cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, remorse, attachment, intimacy, and accountability, explaining how someone may recognise another’s suffering without responding compassionately or changing harmful behavior. It cautions against diagnosing ASPD from relationship behavior, emphasizes sustained accountability over words, and affirms that understanding abuse does not require excusing it or identifying a diagnosis.… Read More The Psychology of ASPD: Empathy, Remorse, Attachment, Control and Conscience

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Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD): How it affects relationships and whether people feel emotions

People with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) can feel emotions. They are not necessarily emotionless, incapable of attachment or unable to experience love. However, they may experience, process and respond to emotions differently from people without the disorder. One of the most important distinctions is between feeling an emotion and having the capacity to understand, respect and respond… Read More Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD): How it affects relationships and whether people feel emotions

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When You Are Ready to Tell Your Story: Finding Your Voice After Abuse

Revisiting old letters can reveal patterns of emotional neglect, coercive control, and abuse while fostering compassion for one’s past self. Sharing such experiences may help others recognise unhealthy relationships, but it should never be obligatory. Privacy, safety, and readiness come first. Healing means acknowledging history without letting it define the future or dictate its next chapter.… Read More When You Are Ready to Tell Your Story: Finding Your Voice After Abuse

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No More Dear Paul Letters: I Will Never Beg for Love Again

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment ©Linda C J Turner © 2025 Linda Carol Turner. Content protected by copyright.
Reproduction or redistribution in any form requires prior written permission from the author.
When quoting or referencing, please cite: Linda Carol Turner, Psychology & Neuroscience Insights.

The writer reflects on old letters pleading for affection, understanding, and kindness from an emotionally unavailable partner. She recognizes that repeated attempts to communicate became begging, revealing a relationship marked by neglect, control, and abuse. Now, she rejects further persuasion, embraces her worth, reclaims her voice, and chooses relationships where love and respect are freely given.… Read More No More Dear Paul Letters: I Will Never Beg for Love Again

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You Can Spend a Lifetime With Someone and They Still Never Really Know You

One of the saddest realisations in a relationship is discovering that you can spend almost a lifetime with someone and they never really get to know you. Not because you were difficult to understand, emotionally unavailable or impossible to please, but because they never really made the effort to find out who you were. They… Read More You Can Spend a Lifetime With Someone and They Still Never Really Know You

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When You Finally Meet Someone Who Shows You Love, Rather Than Just Talking About It

Healthy love is consistent, considerate, and reassuring rather than confusing or conditional. It appears through everyday actions, attentive listening, respect, reciprocity, and reliable communication. After experiencing inconsistency, genuine affection may feel unfamiliar, but it allows vulnerability, relaxation, and authenticity. True love complements an already complete life, bringing warmth, peace, playfulness, and dependable care.… Read More When You Finally Meet Someone Who Shows You Love, Rather Than Just Talking About It

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