The Unseen Struggle

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 💜

Domestic violence is not always physical. It can be emotional, psychological, or financial—and it doesn’t require daily contact. Sometimes it comes from a partner, other times even from a relative.

Abuse can look like:

Gaslighting and mind games

Demanding that you “fix” their happiness

Using illness or crisis to manipulate sympathy

Alienating you from loved ones

Making the world believe you are the problem while they remain calm and collected

This is especially true when dealing with narcissistic abuse. Many abusers know how to appear calm when police or others are involved, making their victim seem irrational in comparison. Unfortunately, law enforcement doesn’t always recognize this tactic, though it mirrors what they already know criminals do during interrogations—act composed to gain control.

👉 Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition that goes far beyond arrogance or selfishness. It affects self-esteem, identity, and relationships. Signs of narcissism often follow the anagram SPECIAL ME:

Sense of self-importance

Preoccupied with power, beauty, or success

Entitled

Can only be around “special” people

Interpersonally exploitative

Arrogant

Lacks empathy

Must be admired

Envious of others (or believes others envy them)

While NPD may be a disorder, it never excuses abuse. Abuse is abuse. And you deserve better.

If you are in an abusive relationship, know that:

You are not alone.

Isolation is part of the abuser’s control.

There are organizations, hotlines, and safe people who can help.

Your safety and peace matter most.

Leaving can be dangerous, especially in high-risk cases. That’s why it’s important to:

Create a plan

Seek legal advice or work with an agency

Be careful who you confide in

If you know someone in danger, help connect them to resources. Too many women and families are still losing their lives to abusers—sometimes even in family annihilation cases. Domestic violence impacts everyone, from the victims to the loved ones left to pick up the pieces.

💜 You deserve safety. You deserve peace. You deserve a life free from abuse.

If you or someone you know needs support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788.

Hashtags:
#DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth #EndDomesticViolence #YouAreNotAlone #EmotionalAbuse #NarcissisticAbuse #BreakTheSilence #SurvivorStrong #LoveShouldntHurt