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.
The assessment process can reveal the extent of long-term abuse, which may have become normalized for survivors. This realization can lead to feelings of grief, anger, and self-doubt, especially if family members minimize or deny the abuse. Therapy is essential to help survivors integrate their experiences, rebuild their identity, and restore agency.… Read More When normalisation begins to break down
When a clinician is assessing for multidimensional abuse, they are generally looking beyond a single incident and examining the pattern, domains, severity, impact, risk and degree of control within the relationship. It is not simply a checklist asking, “Were you hit?” A good assessment tries to understand the person’s lived environment. What a clinical assessment may examine 1. Psychological and… Read More Trauma Informed Assessment
Abuse within an intimate relationship is rarely confined to a single behaviour. While public discussions often focus on physical violence, clinical understanding recognises that interpersonal abuse can occur across multiple domains simultaneously, including psychological, verbal, physical, sexual and financial abuse. When several forms of abuse coexist and interact, this can be described as multidimensional or multidomain… Read More Multidimensional Abuse: When Abuse Takes More Than One Form
Almost two years ago, I walked out of my home in the middle of the night. It wasn’t a dramatic escape in the way films sometimes portray these things. There was no car waiting outside. No carefully organised suitcase. No perfectly timed plan. There was simply a moment when I knew I could not stay… Read More Two Years On: From Survival to Feeling Safe Again
The content explores the nuances of an apology from someone who has caused emotional and psychological harm. While expressing remorse and acknowledging wrongdoing, the writer avoids specific details of their abusive behavior. The distinction between genuine regret and a lack of accountability is emphasized, as well as the complexity of acknowledging past suffering while grappling with loss. Ultimately, it stresses that recognizing abuse and sincerity can coexist, alongside the critical assertion that the victim “never deserved it.”… Read More No – I never deserved it!
When “I Have Done Nothing But Upset You” Is Far More Than an Apology Sometimes a handwritten anniversary message can say much more than the person writing it probably realised. One such message contained these words: “For the first 20 years I have done nothing but upset you, and the previous 12 years before that… Read More What Did That Anniversary Letter Really Mean?
The post reflects on the transition from unhealthy to healthy relationships, emphasizing the profound difference between constant anxiety and genuine comfort. It highlights the joy of mutual respect, shared interests, and emotional safety, revealing that true normalcy is rooted in simplicity, consideration, and the absence of toxicity after long deprivation of these experiences.… Read More When Healthy Finally Feels Normal
The author reflects on a transformative conversation with an old friend, contrasting a previous relationship with “Mr. Misery,” who stifled joy. The friend encourages embracing happiness without guilt. The author celebrates a new relationship characterized by laughter and spontaneity, marking liberation from past negativity and recognizing her true glamor in genuine joy.… Read More Mr Misery Has Left the Building
Divorce often reveals the uncomfortable truth about a controlling spouse: they are unlikely to become supportive post-separation. Instead, the struggle can lead to financial complications as the controlling behavior continues. Ultimately, independence and self-sufficiency are vital for breaking free from their influence and regaining control over one’s life.… Read More If They Didn’t Want You Happy During the Marriage, Don’t Expect a Fairytale Divorce
Research into intimate-partner homicide has increasingly moved away from trying to identify a single “type” of killerand towards something much more useful: observable patterns of behaviour and circumstances that are associated with increased risk. This distinction matters. We cannot look at a person and determine that they will become a killer. But research can identify behaviours that… Read More What Research Tells Us About the Risk Factors for Intimate-Partner Homicide
