Intimidation in Relationships: Understanding Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Coercive Control
01/24/25 • 28 min
In this episode, I delve into the element of intimidation in abusive relationships and how it oppresses the target, making escape incredibly challenging. I also share my personal experience with the very real tactics abusers use to discredit their targets, adding even more layers of difficulty to leaving.
Sources
Please see this study regarding PTSD, and the associations between experiencing trauma and threats, as in DV/IPV/Child Abuse:
Kredlow, A., Fenster, R. J., Laurent, E. S., et al. (2022). Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: Implications for PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology, 47(1), pp.247–259. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01155-7
Please see the study which I drew on to show the similarities between threats and intimidation. This article was used more in Episode 2.
Wood, K., Giesbrecht, C. J., Brooks, C., & Arisman, K. (2024). "I couldn't leave the farm: Rural women's experiences of intimate partner violence and coercive control." Violence Against Women. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012241279117
Welcome to Escape the Paradox , a podcast dedicated to exposing and exploring the truth about coercive control, emotional abuse, and the long-term trauma caused by abusive relationships.
Whether it's childhood abuse from a parent, intimate partner violence, or domestic abuse in any form, this podcast dives into the patterns, dynamics, and the psychological impact.
My name is Helena, and I am your host! I share my own lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse, while also creating space for survivor stories, expert insight, and compassionate support.
Healing is non-linear, and a complex and difficult process.
If you're looking for support, please visit escapetheparadox.com to learn more about my services in abuse consulting and advocacy and 1:1 sessions.
Don't forget to subscribe (follow) wherever you get your podcasts!
Remember: It's not your fault, and your story matters!
In this episode, I delve into the element of intimidation in abusive relationships and how it oppresses the target, making escape incredibly challenging. I also share my personal experience with the very real tactics abusers use to discredit their targets, adding even more layers of difficulty to leaving.
Sources
Please see this study regarding PTSD, and the associations between experiencing trauma and threats, as in DV/IPV/Child Abuse:
Kredlow, A., Fenster, R. J., Laurent, E. S., et al. (2022). Prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and threat processing: Implications for PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology, 47(1), pp.247–259. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01155-7
Please see the study which I drew on to show the similarities between threats and intimidation. This article was used more in Episode 2.
Wood, K., Giesbrecht, C. J., Brooks, C., & Arisman, K. (2024). "I couldn't leave the farm: Rural women's experiences of intimate partner violence and coercive control." Violence Against Women. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012241279117
Welcome to Escape the Paradox , a podcast dedicated to exposing and exploring the truth about coercive control, emotional abuse, and the long-term trauma caused by abusive relationships.
Whether it's childhood abuse from a parent, intimate partner violence, or domestic abuse in any form, this podcast dives into the patterns, dynamics, and the psychological impact.
My name is Helena, and I am your host! I share my own lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse, while also creating space for survivor stories, expert insight, and compassionate support.
Healing is non-linear, and a complex and difficult process.
If you're looking for support, please visit escapetheparadox.com to learn more about my services in abuse consulting and advocacy and 1:1 sessions.
Don't forget to subscribe (follow) wherever you get your podcasts!
Remember: It's not your fault, and your story matters!
Previous Episode
Coercion and Threats in Relationships: Understanding Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Coercive Control
In this episode of Escape the Paradox, let's delve into the "Coercion and Threats" section of the Power and Control Wheel. Learn how abusers use coercive tactics to instill fear and maintain control over their targets. Learn to recognize these behaviors, and understand their impact. Whether you're seeking clarity or supporting someone you care about, this episode sheds light on the covert, and difficult to verbalize, dynamics of coercive control.
Sources
I reference the Power and Control Wheel, which was developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs in Duluth, Minnesota. For more information, visit this on their website: https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/
Please see the study conducted by Wood, K., Giesbrecht, C. J., Brooks, C., & Arisman, K. in 2024: "I couldn't leave the farm: Rural women's experiences of intimate partner violence and coercive control” found at https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012241279117 which I drew on during my podcast.
Welcome to Escape the Paradox , a podcast dedicated to exposing and exploring the truth about coercive control, emotional abuse, and the long-term trauma caused by abusive relationships.
Whether it's childhood abuse from a parent, intimate partner violence, or domestic abuse in any form, this podcast dives into the patterns, dynamics, and the psychological impact.
My name is Helena, and I am your host! I share my own lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse, while also creating space for survivor stories, expert insight, and compassionate support.
Healing is non-linear, and a complex and difficult process.
If you're looking for support, please visit escapetheparadox.com to learn more about my services in abuse consulting and advocacy and 1:1 sessions.
Don't forget to subscribe (follow) wherever you get your podcasts!
Remember: It's not your fault, and your story matters!
Next Episode
Emotional and Psychological Abuse – Part 1: Understanding Coercive Control and Domestic Violence in Relationships
Emotional abuse leaves no visible scars, but its impact runs deep.
In this episode of Escape the Paradox, I talk about how emotional abuse erodes self-worth, distorts reality, and keeps targets trapped in cycles of self-doubt. I’ll share how it manifests in both subtle and overt ways, why it’s so difficult to recognize, and how the words and tactics used against me shaped my identity long after the abuse ended.
Most importantly, I want to remind you that the beliefs an abuser ingrains in you are not the truth. Healing is possible, and it starts with challenging their narrative.
Sources:
Gama, C. M. F., Portugal, L. C. L., Gonçalves, R. M., de Souza Junior, S., Vilete, L. M. P., Mendlowicz, M. V., Figueira, I., Volchan, E., David, I. A., de Oliveira, L., & Pereira, M. G. (2021). The invisible scars of emotional abuse: a common and highly harmful form of childhood maltreatment. BMC Psychiatry, 21 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03134-0
Gavin, H. (2011). Sticks and stones may break my bones: An examination of the effects of emotional abuse. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20(5), pp.503–529. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254356919_Sticks_and_Stones_May_Break_My_Bones_The_Effects_of_Emotional_Abuse
National Domestic Violence Hotline. (n.d.). Understand relationship abuse. The Hotline. https://www.thehotline.org/identify-abuse/understand-relationship-abuse/
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). (n.d.). Emotional abuse. NSPCC. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/emotional-abuse/
Newton, C., & Gavin, H. (2016). Studying the long-term psychological effects of emotional abuse experienced in childhood. International Academic Conference on Social Sciences, pp. 41–49. The International Institute for Academic Development. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314206294_Studying_The_Long-term_Psychological_Effects_of_Emotional_Abuse_Experienced_in_Childhood
Welcome to Escape the Paradox , a podcast dedicated to exposing and exploring the truth about coercive control, emotional abuse, and the long-term trauma caused by abusive relationships.
Whether it's childhood abuse from a parent, intimate partner violence, or domestic abuse in any form, this podcast dives into the patterns, dynamics, and the psychological impact.
My name is Helena, and I am your host! I share my own lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse, while also creating space for survivor stories, expert insight, and compassionate support.
Healing is non-linear, and a complex and difficult process.
If you're looking for support, please visit escapetheparadox.com to learn more about my services in abuse consulting and advocacy and 1:1 sessions.
Don't forget to subscribe (follow) wherever you get your podcasts!
Remember: It's not your fault, and your story matters!
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