Would you be able to recognise the signs of coercive control if it was present in your relationship? I thought I would, but it is only after years of reflection that I realise I was being controlled in a number of ways. The thing about coercive control is that it’s…
Narcissistic abuse has the power to hold its victim for long periods of time. There are phases of this abuse which alternate between rage and peace, which confuse and bewilder. I was married to a narcissist for over 20 years. When someone finally saw the truth of my abusive relationship,…
Do the effects of bullying in childhood reach into adulthood? One of my first memories of school is a scene where a crowd of children are throwing stones at a girl behind the playing fields. I wasn’t part of the crowd, but as they walked away, the girl looked at me.…
The worst part of emotional manipulation is not feeling and going through this struggle. No, the most horrible part of enduring this abuse is repeating it with others. I’m going to be honest with you, I have endured emotional manipulation since as far back as I can remember. No, there…
Children of abusive parents don’t just suffer at the time the abuse is taking place, but later on in life as well. It’s not surprising that being a child of abusive parents leaves such long-lasting scars on one's soul. Consider that as children we are forming our most important attachments…
The thing about toxic mother-daughter relationships is that until you grow up, leave home, and discover other people’s family dynamics, everything seems normal. I was a person that didn’t realise I was in one of those toxic mother-daughter relationships until I began speaking to my sisters after my mother had…
Adults sometimes find themselves feeling unloved, and they often look for answers in their surroundings or various influences. The answer, however, could come from their past. Personally, I have abandonment issues, along with all the other quirks, personality flaws, and disorders that I also endure. For many years, I struggled…
Does family manipulation sound like a new thing? You may be surprised to learn that manipulation can come from anyone – be it, partners, mothers or fathers… even siblings. Partner manipulation has become pretty common. Many people have managed to get away from this sort of abusive relationship. However, manipulation…
