• About
  • Contact
DONATE
  • Healing From Abuse
  • Help Someone Being Abused
  • Training + Curriculum
    • Finding Clarity And Healing Course
    • Restore Coaching Community
    • CE Course for Licensed Professionals
    • Responder Course
  • Tools + Resources
    • Blog
    • Types of Abuse
    • Abuse Recovery Stories
    • Terms + Definitions and Other Free Tools
  • Free Monthly Workshops
  • Healing From Abuse
  • Help Someone Being Abused
  • Training + Curriculum
    • Finding Clarity And Healing Course
    • Restore Coaching Community
    • CE Course for Licensed Professionals
    • Responder Course
  • Tools + Resources
    • Blog
    • Types of Abuse
    • Abuse Recovery Stories
    • Terms + Definitions and Other Free Tools
  • Free Monthly Workshops

The MEND Project Blog

The MEND Project Blog

How MEND Can Help? Subscribe Now!

Subscribe Now

The MEND Project’s blog offers articles, personal stories, and more to help victims and responders of emotional abuse.

Use the box below to search our articles, or scroll down to view them as a list.

Additionally, you can click here for free downloadable resources.

gaslighting

What is Gaslighting? 10 Obvious Clues You’re Being Gaslighted

Most of us are familiar with “Gaslighting,” which is often used loosely in response to many situations within diverse relationship types. Gaslighting isn’t always abusive,

Read More
emotional-abuse-of-children

Victims of Any Age: The Link between Covert Emotional Abuse and Child Abuse

Many images come to mind when we think of child abuse. Some imagine: A child in foster care who was abused by their biological or adoptive

Read More
husband is dismissive of my feelings

What it Means When Your Partner Dismisses Your Feelings

Abuse can be subtle and slowly wedge a destructive divide between couples. Subtle, hidden forms of abuse are called Covert Emotional Abuse (CEA). Dismissing is one

Read More
How-to-Respond-to-Gaslighting

How to Respond to Gaslighting — 5-Top Ways to Confront the Abuse

Recognizing and responding to gaslighting can be a daunting task, but understanding its nuances is the first step towards liberation from its manipulative hold.

Read More
how to know if someone is being abused

How To Know If Someone Is Being Abused | In-Depth Guide

Understanding how to tell if someone is being abused isn't always straightforward. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to identify abuse, how

Read More
Complex Ptsd From Emotional Abuse

Complex PTSD from Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can inflict deep wounds and may lead to a complex form of trauma that is challenging to heal. The responses victims receive

Read More
toxic-joking

When Joking Isn’t Funny: How Humor Is Used to Veil Abuse

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a “joke” that felt more like a punch in the gut? A joke is not a

Read More
how-to-identify-financial-abuse

The Silent Weapon: How to Identify Financial Abuse

Research shows financial abuse is common in domestic violence. In fact, 99% of all domestic violence cases involve financial abuse. And its impact is

Read More
signs of abusive relationship

Could You Be In an Abusive Relationship and Not Know It?

It’s common for people to think solely of physical violence when thinking about intimate partner violence. However, not all abuse is obvious. Subtle forms

Read More
signs someone is in an abusive relationship

Signs That Someone Is in an Abusive Relationship

4 Signs That Someone You Care About Is in an Abusive Relationship Recognizing the signs that a friend or family member is in an abusive

Read More
bias against men

Male Abuse Victims: Understanding Bias Against Men

Gender Bias Further Harms Male Victims of Abuse At The MEND Project, we believe that unconscious biases hinder our ability to see, hear, and believe

Read More
withholding affection

The Most Toxic Form of Emotional Abuse: Withholding

Is there someone in your life who refuses to communicate or listen? Or refuses to give you their love or affection? Or maybe they

Read More

Page [tcb_pagination_current_page] of [tcb_pagination_total_pages]

First

Previous

Next

Last

Abusive Belittling

The Harm of Pathologizing Abuse Survivors

At The MEND Project, we often hear stories from survivors whose emotional pain was mislabeled as abnormal behavior or unhealthy behavior. This experience has a name: pathologizing — and it causes deep, lasting harm. This ...

Read More
emotional-abuse-quiz

Is It Emotional Abuse? Take This Confidential Quiz

Emotional abuse, especially when covert or hidden, can be difficult to name and identify. This self-assessment quiz is designed to help uncover subtle relational patterns that may be undermining your emotional safety, autonomy, and well‑being.On ...

Read More
Mark’s Story of Narcissistic Abuse

My Story of Narcissistic Abuse and Workplace Retaliation by Mark

How has MEND helped you?I finally understand what happened to me!I not just gained clarity about what I experienced, I understand what happened to me, and I experience enormous validation from Annette's words about double ...

Read More
Brians Story of Finding Freedom

Brian’s Story: Finding Freedom After 23 Years of Marriage

My name is Brian, and I just finished the self-paced course: Finding Clarity and Healing in Difficult, Confusing, or Abusive Relationships. I am so thankful I found this material. Reading and listening to the testimonies and ...

Read More

Kathy’s Story: Money Was a Constant Source of Tension

Through her courage and resilience, Kathy offers an eye-opening story of emotional abuse that occurred over the course of her marriage. Her journey speaks to the quiet struggles that often go unnoticed and unspoken, especially when ...

Read More
emotional abuse

Recognizing and Overcoming Emotional Abuse: A Path to Freedom, and Empowerment

Emotional abuse can be difficult to identify, as it often doesn’t leave visible scars. However, its impact on mental and emotional well-being can be profound and lasting.In this guide, we’ll break down the complexities of ...

Read More

Page [tcb_pagination_current_page] of [tcb_pagination_total_pages]

First

Previous

Next

Last

Stories Of Healing

Abuse Survivor Stories

Healing from Emotional Abuse Stories

Male Survivor Stories

SHARE YOUR STORY

Our Models & Frameworks

Start Here - How to Heal

How to Help Someone Who Is Being Abused

Healing Model of Compassion

Accountability Model for Abusers

Double Abuse ®

MEND’s Terms & Definitions

Help & Information

If you are in immediate danger contact the national hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) or call 911.

Problems With Couples Therapy

How to Screen a Therapist for Abuse Help

How To Safely Leave an Abusive Relationship

Get Involved

About

Contact

DONATE

Disclaimer: The author of this website, The MEND Project and its founder, Annette Oltmans, takes responsibility for the presentation of the content of this website. We are not clinicians, but are researchers and desire to help you. We are not trying to vilify any gender, or any person, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality etc. Our mission is to identify and clarify the single behaviors or patterns of behaviors that occur when covert abuse is present. The material on this website and the services our nonprofit offers are offered in an effort to serve all victims of abuse. © 2025 The MEND Project. All Rights Reserved.