Children who have been exposed to coercive control carry an immense amount of shame. Dr. Stark refers to them as secondary victims, acknowledging that their abuse is secondary to the primary focus of the abuser - the protective parents. It is disheartening to witness our children treating us poorly, and displaying disrespect and entitlement. However, it is essential to understand that their behavior is often fueled by […]
We have explored the concepts of Fight and Fawn, discussing how children often mimic these behaviors as coping mechanisms in abusive environments. I want to focus on two additional trauma reactions in this blog: Flight & Freeze. […]
