In Episode 89 of After the Quiet, I share the moment that changed everything. While I often say a Dr. Phil episode helped me recognize the signs of coercive control, it was a heartbreaking Ontario news story that made me realize something even more frightening—I was no longer convinced I was safe.

After learning about the tragic death of a young girl during a custody visit, I was shocked by my husband's reaction. Instead of expressing compassion for the child and her family, he blamed the girl's mother. Hearing those words fundamentally changed how I viewed my own situation. It was the first time I stopped asking how I could survive the abuse and started asking how I could safely leave.

This episode explores coercive control, emotional abuse, victim blaming, psychological manipulation, domestic abuse, fear, and the p ...