Intimate partner violence
Intimate partner violence can leave you questioning yourself
You might currently be in a relationship that feels tumultuous and find yourself wondering whether what is happening is abusive.
Or perhaps you’ve left the relationship and know that it was abusive, but you’re still dealing with the impact it had on you.
You may also still need to have contact with an abusive former partner because you share children and are managing parenting arrangements.
Whatever your circumstances, intimate partner violence can leave you questioning yourself long after particular incidents or relationships have ended.
When you don’t feel like yourself anymore
You might doubt yourself constantly or wonder whether everything that happened was somehow your fault.
There may be shame about having been in the relationship, or you might still carry things your partner said about you that left you feeling bad about yourself, insecure or like you weren’t good enough.
Some people withdraw from friends and other relationships. Everyday responsibilities such as work or parenting can become harder. You may feel more emotionally sensitive, constantly on edge, numb or depressed.
You might experience nightmares or flashbacks, avoid reminders of the person or find that your boundaries with other people have changed. Perhaps you find yourself doing too much for others or struggling to recognise what you need.
For some people, one of the strongest feelings is simply that they’ve lost themselves somewhere within the relationship.
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Making sense of what happened
Therapy can help you make sense of what happened, or what is still happening, in your relationship.
It can be a place to understand the impact the relationship has had on the way you see yourself, your confidence, your boundaries and your sense of safety.
It can also help your body begin to relax and feel safer again after spending so much time on alert.
My hope is that therapy can help you reconnect with yourself, regain confidence in who you are and, when you’re ready, feel safer in intimate relationships again.
The relationship may have shaped parts of your experience, but it does not have to define who you are.
Thinking about starting therapy?
If you’re thinking about starting therapy, you’re welcome to get in touch.
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You can ask any questions you have, learn a little more about my approach, or book an appointment if you feel ready to get started. If you’d prefer to speak first, you can also request a free 15-minute initial conversation to briefly talk about what you’re looking for and whether I might be the right therapist for you.