• 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.

Grounding Techniques to Manage Trauma and Stress

Grounding Techniques to Manage Trauma and Stress

Grounding techniques are valuable tools to help manage symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety disorders, and the effects of trauma or secondary trauma. When you

Read More
Is-This-Really-My-Life-by-Victoria

Is This Really My Life? by Victoria

In this touching, real-life story of survival and abuse, you’ll learn how Victoria grappled with a relationship with a man who had a personality

Read More
How to help Abuse Victims

Healing Model of Compassion | How to Help Abuse Victims

Navigating the complexities of helping someone who is being abused can be challenging. On the other hand, it can be one of the most

Read More
My-Significant-Other-Does-Not-Treat-Me-Kindly

My Significant Other Does Not Treat Me Kindly

Often, people do not think of ‘unkindness’ as a sign of abuse. But it can be. And it’s crucial to learn not only how

Read More
I-Didnt-See-the-Signs-at-First-by-Jenni

I Didn’t See the Signs at First, by Jenni

When Jenni met her husband, she thought that he was kind and different. But as they got more serious and eventually married, his abusive

Read More
Narcissistic Parents

Unmasking the Impact of Narcissistic Parents on their Children

It can be challenging to grasp the significant impact caused by narcissistic parents. It has longstanding effects that often linger into adulthood, leading to

Read More
Teen Dating Violence

Teen Dating Violence: Is Your Teen Experiencing Abuse?

Abuse does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone. Children, teens, adults and the elderly all can be victims of abuse. Violence happens in intimate partnerships,

Read More
Accountability Process for Abusers

Holding Abusers Accountable While Maintaining Safety For Victims: The Accountability Model of Courage

Abuse is always a choice, and it is never the victim’s fault. This is essential for anyone to know who is responding to or

Read More
Excitement Quickly Turned Into Confusion

Excitement Quickly Turned Into Confusion: By Tobey

We are grateful to our friend “Tobey” for sharing her story about the workplace abuse she experienced. Many of us know what it feels

Read More
Gaslighting Overused

Gaslighting is Often Misused: The Overuse of Gaslighting Explained

Most people are familiar with the term “gaslighting,” but how many really know what it means? Our guess is relatively few do. The term gaslighting is

Read More
survivor-story-of-control-and-manipulation

Katy’s Story of Control and Manipulation from Her Husband

Meet Katy. Katy was born in Cleveland, OH. and was raised in a loving, conservative Christian home. When she was 22, she met and fell

Read More
Healing from a Covert Narcissist

Healing From a Covert Narcissist: By Michelle

We are thankful for Michelle’s bravery in sharing her story of healing from abuse by a covert narcissist.In this abuse survivor story, you’ll gain

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.