People who love bomb and then back off exhibit a pattern of intense, overwhelming affection followed by sudden withdrawal. This behavior can be confusing and emotionally destabilizing for those on the receiving end. Understanding the motivations and dynamics behind love bombing helps in recognizing and managing such relationships. What Is Love Bombing? Love bombing is… Read More What Is Love Bombing?
Many people find themselves trapped in relationships where their anxious attachment style keeps them holding on longer than is healthy, hoping things will improve. This pattern often leads to emotional pain, especially in abusive relationships. After years of struggle and self-reflection, healing is possible. Here’s a personal journey and insight into why recognizing and moving… Read More Living with Anxious Attachment
Experiencing pressure to sell personal assets like your car or family heirlooms, and then having the money placed into a joint account without proper repayment, is a serious warning sign of financial manipulation and control. These actions often indicate an attempt to gain control over your finances and assets under the guise of partnership or… Read More Why Family Heirlooms Matter
When history repeats itself and a family that once doubted or dismissed abuse finds themselves facing the same painful situation again, the emotional and psychological impact can be devastating. This recurrence often exposes deep patterns of denial, disbelief, and unresolved trauma within the family system. Families that previously did not believe victims of abuse may… Read More The Pain of Repeated Abuse in Disbelieving Families
When an abuser witnesses the impact of their own behavior on their children or grandchildren, especially in a courtroom setting where they observe further abuse unfolding, a complex and profound emotional and psychological dynamic emerges. This scenario reveals layers of denial, accountability, and the cyclical nature of abuse that can affect families deeply. Abuse often… Read More The Moment of Reckoning: An Abuser Witnessing Their Own Legacy
Many people enter marriage hoping their partner will change for the better, especially if they’ve experienced cruelty or meanness during the relationship. However, the truth is that mean behavior doesn’t magically vanish after the wedding or even after divorce. Some women hold on to the hope that this timethings will be different, but cruelty and meanness… Read More Mean Before, Mean After: Why Marriage Isn’t a Magic Makeover
1. Emotionally immature behaviour This is when someone struggles to regulate emotions or take responsibility for their impact on others. Common signs: How it feels to you:You may feel like you’re constantly “managing” their reactions rather than having an equal relationship. 2. Entitled behaviour patterns This involves expecting special treatment or exemptions from rules that… Read More How to Recognise Common Harmful Relational Patterns
If an abuser’s new partner comes to you asking questions about your past, your reaction will usually depend on one key question: Is this about their safety and understanding—or are you being pulled back into something emotionally destabilising? Here are a few common scenarios and how you might respond. 1. They seem genuine, grounded, and… Read More Questions and enquiries
In psychology, “sadistic traits” refer to patterns where a person may derive satisfaction from another person’s discomfort, distress, or humiliation. These traits exist on a spectrum and are not always obvious or extreme. In everyday life, they may show up in subtle relational dynamics rather than overt cruelty. It’s important to approach this topic with… Read More Understanding Harmful Interpersonal Patterns (Including Sadistic Traits)
Sadism isn’t just “being mean” or “cold.” Clinically and psychologically, it refers to a pattern where a person derives pleasure, satisfaction, or a sense of control from causing others discomfort, humiliation, or suffering. It exists on a spectrum—most people don’t meet any clinical threshold, but some traits can show up in everyday behaviour in milder… Read More Sadism
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 