abuse

You find yourself constantly second-guessing decisions you used to make easily. You feel guilty for setting boundaries with someone who hurt you—maybe you even worry you abandoned them. You wonder if you’re overreacting, or if what you experienced really was that bad. These are all signs of narcissistic abuse, and…

Your last relationship ended months ago, but your body still tenses up when someone raises their voice. You find yourself constantly analyzing your new partner’s mood, searching for signs they might turn on you. Simple disagreements feel like threats, and you catch yourself either shutting down completely or preparing to…

Childhood trauma can cast a long shadow over a person’s life, affecting how you connect with others well into adulthood. It can make it difficult to navigate conflict, develop an effective communication style, build trust, and overcome fears of vulnerability. If early traumatic experiences are affecting your adult relationships, it’s…

Many people have close relationships with their parents — in fact, some consider their mother or father their best friend. But that isn’t always the case.  There’s a less fortunate narrative: Some people hate their parents. They don’t just lack that connection or disagree with their parents from time to…

Self-harm is a serious and prolific issue today — especially among young people. Self-harm is not uncommon. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, it is estimated that up to 16.9% of people will self-harm in their lifetime, often starting at the age of…

Although they’re often framed as opposites, we can experience both love and hate for something at the same time. A love-hate relationship can exist between friends, family, coworkers, and, most frequently, romantic partners.  While it is normal to have some negative feelings towards loved ones at times, these negative feelings…

Each October, volunteers, families, employers, and advocacy groups work together for a common purpose: to bring Domestic Violence Awareness Month into the public’s eye. Since 1989, 31 days in October remind us of the strength and resilience of domestic violence survivors—we’re encouraged to help support them through educating ourselves, volunteering, …

Childhood, if nothing else, is a memorable period of our lives. Hopefully, we can recall blissful memories: of holidays, old friends, family vacations, and time spent simply running around, doing all the things kids do. But not every childhood experience is so positive—some of us have adverse childhood experiences. In…

We sometimes use the terms “verbal abuse” and “emotional abuse” interchangeably… but we shouldn’t. Because while they might overlap, verbal abuse and emotional abuse are very different, with distinct characteristics and impacts. Verbal Abuse: The Aggressive Use (or Suppression) of Language Verbal abuse is the use of language to hurt…

Statistics show that people who have been abused in the past are more likely to be abused in the future. This begs an important question: Do certain people attract abusers or abusive relationships? It’s important to note that abuse is never the victim’s fault. In fact, more often than not,…

We can spot an abusive friendship when we practice listening to ourselves. Your inner self will let you know what’s going on inside. Your mind constantly oversees your needs, wishes, and dislikes, and communicates to you through the language of bodily sensations. If you take the time to slow down…

When I think about violence, I shudder. Whether it’s two MMA fighters battling it out on TV, a kid lashing out at his mother, or an argument that has escalated into a physical altercation between partners. I find the latter case particularly disturbing. The first example is obviously an organized…