Escape the Paradox
Welcome to Escape the Paradox, where I expose the hidden reality of coercive control and domestic violence including psychological, emotional and physical abuse.
I’m Helena, a survivor of childhood abuse. I'm a mental health nursing student and advocate, here to support you in breaking free from the confusion, fear, and isolation that abuse creates.
Home should be the safest place, but for many, it becomes the most dangerous.
In each episode, I share my personal story and dive into my own experiences, as well as survivor experiences, trauma-informed insights, and expert research to help you understand the mechanisms of abuse and begin your healing journey.
We’ll explore tactics such as gaslighting, and how abusers wield and seek power and control, not to diagnose, but because naming abuse is the first step in reclaiming your reality.
If you're ready to reconnect with your truth and rebuild your self-worth through clarity and understanding, you’re in the right place.
Follow Escape the Paradox on Threads, Instagram, and TikTok: @escapetheparadox.
Escape the Paradox
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.
Together, we’ll explore the complexities of coercive control, learn how to speak our truth, and find strength in knowing we’re not alone. This is a space where we can come together, share our struggles, and rebuild our lives, one word at a time.
If you’d like to connect, share your story, or even be part of the podcast, you can email me at escapetheparadox@outlook.com. Follow the podcast on TikTok and Instagram—just search for @escapetheparadox.
Listen in on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. I’m here to walk this path with you.
Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and join me as we break the silence together. In upcoming episodes, we’ll dive deeper into the realities of coercive control, hear from survivors, and explore ways to reclaim our voices and our power.
