Phillip spent years trying to figure out why he felt like a slave. “It must be due to my childhood. That’s why I struggle so.” He saw a therapist. Tried to get help. He defended his wife; thought she was his only support. Until one day, the revelation of what was going on hit him…
She is so incredibly mad at me. She says I said something when we were at dinner with her family that I did NOT say, but she insists I apologize for it. Once I apologize for something I didn’t do, she’ll make me apologize profusely before she decides to show me any warmth. I just…
Today’s blog is a story from a brave survivor who courageously shares her story. Survivor stories can be healing and validating for those who are within or have been in an abusive relationship. They are essential for survivors to share. But they also can be very hard to hear; sometimes, we can become triggered by…
I can remember when I worked with kids in the foster care system – you know those children who are taken away from their biological parents because the abuse or neglect they experience is considered to be so harmful that the child cannot be kept safe within the home so the State places them with…
Are you biased against men? No, really, are you? This is not a question typically asked but when it comes to domestic violence, this is an important question. At The M3ND Project, we believe that unconscious biases hinder our ability to see, hear and believe victims of abuse. Gender biases are a common barrier to…
Discerning through the experiences and stories of two people can be tricky and confusing. This lack of clarity is especially true when abuse is involved. From the outside, the behaviors of both people may seem to be unhealthy. This is especially true with relationships that have a long history of abuse. These cases can often…
I never intended to hurt my little girl with my words and responses to her. I really had no idea how badly I had been harming her. It wasn’t until recently that I realized that I had been minimizing and invalidating her for quite some time. Covert emotional abuse is such a complicated topic. It…
The name itself, “partial confessions”, as a term of abuse may be confusing to some. How can that be abuse? I mean, isn’t that what we want? Someone who is willing to apologize at least in part for wrongful behavior? It isn’t easy for any of us to admit we have failed or to acknowledge…
Until I left him, I really had no idea that how my husband was treating me with respect to the handling of our finances was considered abusive. He told me early on in our relationship that I didn’t need to work and that I should quit my job. But I liked my job, so I…
We at The M3ND Project have identified a recurring and profoundly devastating theme in the lives of those who have experienced harm from all forms of Original Abuse. All too often, when they courageously choose to disclose their abuse experiences and reach out for help, rather than being believed, victims are criticized, judged, interrogated, given…
