WHEW! This topic was a rollercoaster of emotions for me! For years I questioned if our relationship was normal. I desperately wanted the "Hollyweird" version of a relationship. The romance, no shouting, no names, and for someone to love all of me. I wondered if I was really abused or was just going crazy? Let's dig into today's episode to find out more!

 Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

This can also be called, “Stockholm Syndrome” in an abusive relationship. It can be formed quickly and last even after a relationship has been severed. A victim may feel powerless to leave. They make you feel empathy for them even though they are in the wrong. This person may even feel they can't live without this person. Tune in for tips to help you begin to heal from this.

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

This is pt 7 of "What does abuse look like?" where I share some of the common abuse types. Here is an example of cyber abuse:

You may have someone sending threats, hurtful messages on email, or text messages, on websites and social media.

Posting secrets, recordings, private/personal videos, and pictures.

Hacking into the victim's account to find out personal information whereabouts, financial info.

Steal identity.

Create a fake ad of the victim.

Sexting.

Starting rumors.

Stalking you online or having others spy on you.

You may have the feeling that you are being watched! Planting spyware on your computer, tracking your whereabouts via GPS, installing cameras in your home or elsewhere to spy on you.

Tracking your email/internet use.

Constantly emailing, messaging, or texting you to intimidate or frighten you.

Harass you on social media, dating sites, chat, and gaming sites.

Harassing you by calling or emailing your workplace to cause trouble or get you fired.

What can you do? There are laws to protect you. First, start by contacting your local law enforcement. Make sure to keep screenshots, any type of paper trail with any emails/text messages, voicemails, and so on. If you keep receiving these keep alerting the police.

You may need to share issues with your workplace about your situation.

If you can afford it consider investing in new electronics- Laptop, computer, or phone. Have your vehicle and home swept for tracking or surveillance equipment.

If those seem a bit out of your price range right now, consider checking out how to find these things yourself.

Like the other forms of abuse, an abuser wants the victim to feel powerless and that they have control.

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

Telling a victim to "just leave" sounds easy but some of the things the victim is thinking about are:

Will be divorced/separated

Will face them in court/legal settings

Lose friends and family

I Will be a single parent

Rejection from church or organizations

Will I ever find love again?

Will I be able to collect support from the abuser?

How will I survive with no job, money, insurance, car, house?

Telling your friend positive statements such as-

What do you need?

I am here for you and am here to listen to your story when you are ready.

I believe you!

You are doing a great job + more- listen in!

If someone you know is living in fear please share this with them so they know they are not alone and to help raise awareness. If you need to talk to someone about abuse please message me privately.

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

Did you ever wonder what a shelter is like? It sounds mysterious and maybe even scary! Join me with Shayla Wiseman from the North Central Indiana Rural Crisis Center to shed some light on these things and more. 

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

The first 72 hours of leaving your abuser can be one of the most dangerous times. I am not sharing this to scare you or change your mind about leaving. I am sharing so you aren't caught off guard. 

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

Today I'm asking the question if you can spot abuse in a relationship or if you can see the red flags in a person. I didn't listen to my guts and plunged into a relationship that would send me on a life or death situation. Do you know the signs of an abusive person? Tune in here!

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

This is part 5 of my 8 part series about "What abuse looks like". Today, I'm talking about spiritual abuse, what does this look like in a relationship?

It can take the form of:

Converting to a different religion

Being kept from church or members of your church

Not being allowed to practice your religion or worship in a manner of your choosing

Using religion to justify the abuse

Forcing you to attend services

And more!

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

Do you know the reasons people stay in abusive relationships? Find out 14 reasons why. Honestly, I could create a video for each of these reasons and the many others there are. I barely touched the surface in this episode! 

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255

How you can start talking about abuse to your close circle of family and friends? Having a public conversation about abuse 'can' happen but please consider the place you are at and who is around you. Discussing adult experiencing or using adult words may 'not' be appropriate in front of or around kids. If you do have wee ones around consider toning it down by using words that may not be graphic. Such as, instead of giving details of rape say that there was an assault. Details for all of these things can be given in a more intimate setting.

Behind closed doors and if both of you are comfortable use whatever descriptions you want but in either scenario as for permission. Don't be surprised if the person you are talking to deny the abuse. Give information that does not overwhelm but educates enough that they may let them think about what you said later.

Talk about the signs of abuse- Physical, Financial, Sexual, or Mental. Give a brief description. If you have numbers for services your friend can use please share or offer to help further.

Remind your friend that you do love them and believe them. Give reassurance that it is between the two of you.

If your friend is not ready to hear you about this topic or doesn't leave right away. Don't take this to heart! The decision to leave is hard and not taken lightly. Ask a few weeks or a month later about how she or he is feeling but don't make them feel bad about continuing to stay.

I'm proud of you whoever you are! If you need more help, tips, or suggestions please feel free to drop me a message.

Someone out there needs to know they are not alone and that they can survive. Perhaps you are a parent or friend of someone trapped in an abusive relationship and need to know how to help. Message me privately for support or help. My goal is to share awareness, offer empowerment, and educate others about emotional traumas and domestic abuse.

This is the first of many episodes to come where I will share my story but also stories of courage and healing from Survivors, Coaches, to Therapists/Counselors.

You can find my books and my Journals here- https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Kunst/e/B0788SWSB1

Find me on Facebook here- www.facebook.com/hopewhentherewasnone

Find help and info here-

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.domesticshelters.org/

https://internationalwomenshouse.org/get-help

https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations

Sexual Assault Hotline- https://www.rainn.org/ 

National Suicide Prevention lifeline-800-273-8255