We were not born into this world with the belief that we are “less than.” That notion is not innate; it is taught to us over time, until it embeds itself deeply into our identity. It arrives in small, nearly imperceptible moments: like being talked over when we share something, having our ideas questioned more harshly than others’, or being misunderstood repeatedly without anyone attempting to see from our perspective.
abuse survivor
In a world where wars, disasters, and everyday violence shape so many lives, trauma is far from rare. Researchers estimate that nearly 70% of people will face at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime, and about 5.6% will develop post-traumatic stress disorder. But when the trauma comes from abuse, especially the kind that unfolds behind closed doors, the impact can be even more insidious.
In this land of the free, abuse is woven into the foundations of numerous systems we have come to depend on. It is normalized, hidden behind metal walls and closed doors, and reinforced by oligarchic corporations that benefit from continued silence. It is because of this silence that the abuse largely goes unnoticed and unchallenged. Yet when brought to the surface, illuminated and exposed, this abuse is then repackaged by corporations to be a necessity rather than an immediate and ongoing crisis.
Most people don’t picture a male when they imagine a Victim of Domestic or Sexual Abuse. That reaction is not accidental; it’s the result of generations of gender and societal expectations that teach males from a young age to be invulnerable, unemotional, and always in control.
Many people think Emotional Abuse leaves no scars. After all, there are no bruises to point to, no broken bones to mend. But the damage runs deeper than skin. Emotional Abuse slices into the very core of a person, eroding confidence, self-worth, and identity until only fragments remain.