Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, encompassing the ability to handle stress, relate to others, make decisions, and navigate the challenges of life. It influences how individuals think, feel, and act, contributing to the overall balance and quality of their lives. Mental health is essential at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
A Slightly Honest… Slightly Dramatic Answer People often ask me: “What was it like living in France?” And without missing a beat, I usually reply: “Like solitary confinement… for 16 years.” Now, I know that sounds completely absurd. A bit dramatic.Possibly questionable.Definitely not something you’d expect someone to say about living in France. But honestly?… Read More “What Was It Like Living in France?”
It’s funny where life takes you sometimes. You don’t always understand it while you’re in it — the moves, the changes, the places you end up. At the time, you just keep going, doing your best, making it work. But when you look back, it starts to make sense. It Was Always There Spain was… Read More Funny How Life Brings You Back to Where You Belong
Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from big decisions or dramatic moments. It comes quietly — in the middle of a good weekend, surrounded by the right people, in a place that simply feels… right. And suddenly you realise: This is why I need to stay. The Power of Familiarity There is something deeply stabilising about familiarity.… Read More A Quiet Realisation: Why Staying Matters More Than Leaving
Every now and then, life gives you a moment that reminds you how it’s meant to feel. A perfect weekend isn’t about luxury or perfection — it’s about energy. The kind that feels easy, natural, and real. The kind that doesn’t need effort. It’s good friends.It’s music in the background.It’s sunshine on your face.It’s laughter that comes… Read More When Life Feels Light Again: The Power of a Perfect Weekend
When abuse continues after separation, it is often misunderstood as emotional “refusal to move on.” In reality, psychology and neuroscience show that entrenched behavioural patterns do not automatically soften when a relationship ends — and in some cases, external distance can intensify control-based responses. At the same time, in many jurisdictions, behaviours such as harassment,… Read More Criminal Liability, Behavioural Control, and the Neuroscience of Post-Separation Abuse
A common belief is that separation from an abusive partner should naturally lead to a reduction in abusive behaviour. In reality, many people experience the opposite: control, intimidation, manipulation, or emotional aggression continues — and sometimes intensifies. Neuroscience and psychology help explain why this happens. 1. The Brain Does Not Automatically “Improve” With Age There… Read More Why Abuse Doesn’t Stop After Separation: What Neuroscience and Psychology Really Tell Us
Hearing an adult child say that a parent “ruined their childhood through abusive behaviour” is one of the most emotionally charged moments a family can face. It is not a casual statement. It usually carries years — sometimes decades — of stored pain, unresolved memory, and emotional injury that has never been fully processed. For… Read More When an Adult Child Says “My Father Ruined My Childhood”: Understanding Pain, Anger, and What Families Can Do Next
When children grow up in abusive homes — witnessing violence, emotional cruelty, control, or fear — it leaves deep emotional imprints. These experiences do not simply disappear with age. They shape how a person sees themselves, others, and the world. For some, this pain transforms into sadness or withdrawal. But for others, it becomes something… Read More When Childhood Hurt Turns Into Lifelong Anger: Revenge, Family Trauma, and How Healing Can Begin
In some families, conflict does not resolve — it accumulates. What begins as hurt or misunderstanding can, over time, evolve into something far more entrenched: a mindset built around revenge, punishment, and regaining control. Instead of healing, the emotional injury is repeatedly revisited, reinforced, and passed through generations. When this happens over decades, it stops… Read More When Revenge Becomes a Lifelong Pattern: Understanding Decades of Retaliation in Families and How to Break the Cycle
There are times in life when things feel so heavy, so overwhelming, or so controlled that it can seem impossible to imagine anything different. But change is possible. Not in a quick or easy way — and not without struggle — but it is possible. And sometimes, the most powerful truth is this: you can rebuild… Read More From Surviving to Living: Proof That Change After Abuse Is Possible
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 