393. Patricia Gordon Stevens - Leaving: The Fear, Shame & Coercive Control Follow After You Escape

This story comes with warnings. If this episode becomes too intense, stop and do what is best for you.

Patricia Gordon Stevens knows what it is like o leave an abusive marital relationship. What she wants people to understand is that leaving is not necessarily the end of the abuse, or the end of the fear.

After leaving her own abusive marriage, Patricia experienced the psychological aftermath that can follow a woman long after she has physically left. The fear, the hyper vigilance, the shame, the erosion of trust in her own judgment, and the difficult process of rebuilding a life that feels safe again.

One of Patricia's strongest messages is "We need to stop simply telling women in abusive relationships to "just leave." it is not helpful. It is complex. And there are risks and psychological consequences. She will tell us about these and more.

Instead, we need to ask, "what can I do to help?"

We compliment Patricia. Because her own experiences informed her novel entitled, "Madness in Memphis."

It is a book that explores coerce of control and what happens psychologically after a woman escapes and abusive relationship.

Her website: PatriciaGordonStevens.com

Bill Mitchell

NOTE:

If you are a survivor and want to share your story of abuse on the WHEN DATING HURTS Podcast, please email me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BillMitchell@WhenDatingHurts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WHEN DATING HURTS book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (in paperback, eBook, and audiobook) can be found on Amazon.