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.
You could write this as a powerful reflection while keeping the focus on safety and awareness: I have been told in no uncertain terms that now is the time to be vigilant. The professionals who deal with these situations every day understand something that many victims do not realise until much later: the period when… Read More The most dangerous time
What I learned very quickly was this: when a relationship becomes dangerous, evidence matters. When restraining orders are ignored, when boundaries are repeatedly crossed, and when family members close ranks, gang up on you, or attempt to intimidate and bully you into silence, your feelings and memories are important—but evidence is essential. The Guardia Civil… Read More Evidence remains.
While sorting through old documents, I also came across something else from that period—recordings of the conversations that took place that night. After being locked out of my own home, I went back inside expecting the worst. Something told me that I needed to record what happened, not out of revenge, but to ensure there… Read More Phone recordings
Abuse rarely exists in isolation. It thrives in secrecy, denial, and the unspoken rules that keep families trapped in harmful patterns. Across generations, the effects of abuse can ripple through families, shaping relationships, influencing behaviours, and leaving emotional wounds that may persist for decades. Many families carry painful histories that are never openly discussed. Children… Read More Breaking the Cycle: Confronting Abuse, Ending Silence, and Creating a Better Future
One of the most difficult emotions for survivors of childhood abuse to talk about is the desire to see an abusive parent suffer. Society expects children to love, forgive, and honour their parents, no matter what happened behind closed doors. As a result, many adult survivors carry feelings of anger, resentment, and even thoughts of… Read More When the Wounded Child Wants the Parent to Suffer
Understanding the Overlap Between Intimate Partner Violence and Harm to Children Domestic abuse and child abuse are often discussed as separate issues. In reality, they frequently exist within the same household and can be driven by the same underlying patterns of coercion, control, and entitlement. Research consistently shows that while not every person who abuses… Read More When Domestic Abuse Crosses Into Child Abuse
For years, you may have been told that you were too much. Too sensitive.Too passionate.Too emotional.Too honest.Too ambitious.Too kind.Too loud.Too quiet. Perhaps you spent years shrinking yourself to make other people comfortable. You learned to speak less, ask for less, dream less, and expect less. You questioned your own worth because the people around you… Read More You Were Never Too Much—You Were Just in the Wrong Room
Family harassment in Spain is taken seriously under both criminal law and police protection systems (including VioGén when relevant). It can apply even if there is no physical violence. Here’s a clear breakdown: 👨👩👧 What counts as family harassment? Family or “domestic” harassment can include behaviour from: Ex-partners or spouses Family members (in-laws included) People connected… Read More What counts as family harassment?
Here’s how police in Spain typically assess ongoing risk after long-term domestic violence or harassment cases(including cases that have been through restraining orders and may be in or out of VioGén monitoring). 🟡 1. Risk is not based on time — it’s based on behaviour patterns Police and risk assessors do not use a “time passed =… Read More Structured risk assessment tools (VPR / VPER)
Here’s a clear, practical explanation of what can still count as harassment, stalking, or indirect contact in Spain after a restraining order has expired. Even when an order ends, certain behaviours can still be treated as new offences under Spanish law if they are unwanted, repeated, or cause distress. 🚨 1. Harassment (acoso) This is repeated behaviour that disturbs… Read More Harassment (acoso)
