There is a moment in recovery that you may never have imagined. You meet someone new. And you realise you’re not afraid. Not afraid of saying the wrong thing. Not afraid that a simple disagreement will become an argument. Not afraid to say no. Not afraid to express an opinion. Not afraid to ask for… Read More You Know You Have Moved On When Love No Longer Feels Frightening
“He’ll be different with someone else.” It is something survivors are sometimes told. Perhaps the relationship has ended. Perhaps he has moved on. Perhaps there is already another woman in his life. And you may find yourself wondering: Will he treat her better? Was I the problem? Why couldn’t he behave like that with me?… Read More The Next Victim: When Abusive Behaviour Follows the Person
Sometimes the thing you least expect after leaving is discovering that the person you left hasn’t gone anywhere. You may have imagined that once the relationship ended, they would move away. Perhaps they had talked about leaving for years. Perhaps family members told you that they would move to another country. Perhaps they repeatedly said… Read More When They Don’t Leave: Finding Peace When Someone You Left Stays Nearby
Recovery from abuse involves reclaiming control over one’s life, finances, and emotions. It signifies the moment when one realizes they are no longer bound by another’s manipulation or fear. True freedom lies in establishing boundaries, trusting oneself, and recognizing that peace is innate, independent of past trauma. Healing fosters autonomy and personal growth.… Read More When You Finally Reach a Place of Peace Where No One Can Control You Anymore
Abuse thrives in secrecy.
Whether it is physical violence, coercive control, emotional abuse, financial abuse or sexual abuse, perpetrators often rely on silence to continue their behaviour.
When victims are discouraged from speaking, or when those around them minimise what they disclose, the abusive behaviour can become more frequent, more severe and more dangerous.
Silence is not a solution.… Read More “Keep It in the Family” Can Be Dangerous: Why Silence Protects Abuse, Not Victims
There is a very human instinct to feel compassion when someone tells us they are seriously unwell. Cancer, chronic illness and serious health difficulties naturally evoke concern, empathy and a desire to help. But what happens when illness becomes repeatedly used to gain sympathy, attention, forgiveness, financial assistance or exemption from accountability? This is where… Read More When Illness Becomes a Source of Sympathy: Be Careful What You Wish For
Imagine a school where children aren’t only taught how to solve mathematical problems, read books and pass examinations. Imagine a school where they are also taught how to understand another person’s feelings. How to recognise fear behind anger. How to notice when somebody is withdrawing. How to listen without immediately judging. How to disagree without… Read More What If We Taught Empathy as Seriously as We Teach Mathematics?
Age-gap relationships are becoming more common off-screen, too For decades, Hollywood had a very clear idea of what an age-gap relationship was supposed to look like. The man was older. The woman was younger. And nobody seemed particularly surprised. Older male actors could continue playing romantic leads well into their 60s, 70s and beyond, often… Read More Hollywood’s Latest Obsession: Older Women and Younger Men
My first marriage began with very little. We started from nothing and built our life together. And that distinction matters. There is something incredibly satisfying about building a life with someone when you both start with very little. You work, you save, you make decisions together and, slowly, you create something that belongs to both… Read More When Luxury Becomes Something You Are Taught to Feel Guilty For
For a long time, I wondered where all my contributions had gone. Not just the money. My work.My energy.My sacrifices.My time.My ideas.My emotional labour.My contribution to the household and the life we had built together. I was not raised in poverty, and I was certainly not raised to believe that deprivation was a virtue. I… Read More Where Did My Contributions Go?
Trauma • Neuroscience • Emotional Intelligence • Women's Empowerment 