Emotional Abuse

04/20/2026

Comment below any topic or question you'd like an answer to and maybe we can help

04/20/2026

"How do I know if a guy is into me, or if he just wants s3x?"

This is such a common and painful crossroad for people navigating CPTSD. When you have a history of trauma, your "internal compass" for safety and intent can feel broken or over-sensitive.
When we have CPTSD, the goal is to not rely on her "gut feeling," because trauma often makes the gut feel like everything is a red flag (or ignores the red flags entirely).

The "Intent" Checklist: Consistency vs. Intensity

When we have CPTSD, we often get swept up in intensity (fast sparks, "soulmate" talk, constant texting). But intensity is often a mask for a short-term goal. To find out if he’s into you, look for consistency.

1. The "Non-Sexual" Investment

Does he ask questions about your life that have no "payoff" for him? (e.g., asking about your favorite childhood book, your work stress, or your goals/your heart).
Does he remember the small things? Someone into you remembers your coffee order or that you had a big meeting on Tuesday. Someone just looking for s*x usually only remembers the details that lead to the bedroom.

2. The "No" Test (The most important one)

What happens when you say "no" or "not tonight"? * Just for s*x: They might get cold, disappear for a few days, try to guilt-trip you ("I thought we had a connection"), or "negotiate" your boundaries. Sometimes they even tell you that they are in pain, men need more than women or they may attack you for being cautious or just not agreeing to it right now. Ignore that. A man that is into you will respect you and want to know the time feels right for YOU.

Into YOU: They respect the boundary without making it a "thing." They are happy to just hang out, watch a movie, talk or stay connected without physical escalation.

3. Public vs. Private

Does he want to see you in the daylight? If he only suggests "Netflix and chill" or late-night "come over" invites, that’s a clear signal.
Does he integrate you into his life? Someone truly interested will eventually want you to meet a friend or see where they spend their time. If you feel like a "secret" kept in a dark room, it’s likely physical.

4. The Pace of the Relationship

Trauma-Bonding vs. Building: Does he "love bomb" you (telling you you’re the one after three days)? For those with CPTSD, this feels good but is a huge red flag.
A guy who is truly into you will be patient. He won't mind moving slowly because he plans on being around for a long time.

"If you find yourself constantly 'auditioning' for his approval or trying to read his mind, take a step back. In a healthy connection, you shouldn't have to be a detective.
True interest feels like a slow, steady warm light; a s*xual 'conquest' feels like a flash-bang gr***de. Trust the person who is willing to wait for your 'yes' and who shows up for the boring parts of your life, not just the 'fun' parts."

Another thing to remember with CPTSD is that we sometimes might also be struggling with "fawning" (trying to please a partner to stay safe or loved or not neglected), but you are allowed to set a "slow pace" and you should never have to fawn.
Fawning is part of the fight or flight response, fight or flight is actually "fight, flight, freeze and fawn" the 4 main ways that we respond to danger when we are wired for trauma.
(I wrote this with AI and I hope that it helps you!)

03/15/2026

As a lifelong student of psychology and someone living with CPTSD, I am sounding the alarm. We have to expect BETTER from the mental health community.

Most people don’t realize that the 'standard of care' has been quietly lowered by insurance companies. They have lobbied to expand the 'scope of practice' for Master’s-level providers so they can bill for diagnoses at a lower cost.

Here is the truth you need to know:

The Gold Standard is a LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST (PhD or PsyD). They have roughly 8 years of specialized university education plus a doctorate. They are the only ones specifically trained to perform comprehensive psychological testing. If you have a complex condition like CPTSD, this is where you should start.

The 'Lower Bar' for Billing: Sadly today, insurance companies allow Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and Professional Counselors (LCPCs) to diagnose. While some of these are Master’s-level professionals, they generally have significantly less psychological education (usually 2-3 years of grad school) compared to a Psychologist. In many states, this change happened in the 90s and 2000s purely so insurance could have a cheaper pool of providers to pay.

MDs vs. Psychiatrists: Don't just take psych pills from a GP or Medical Doctor. A General Practitioner is not a mental health expert. If you need medication, see a Psychiatrist—a medical doctor who specializes entirely in mental health. But remember: a Psychiatrist is there for the 'chemical' side; a Psychologist is there for the 'diagnostic and ther**eutic' side.

Stop Settling for 'Substitutes': We’ve been conditioned to accept whoever the insurance portal gives us. But a 'therapist' or 'social worker' is often not equipped for the deep diagnostic work required for complex trauma. They may tell you a diagnosis isn't important, but it is just as vital as a diagnosis for your physical body. You need a road map, not a guess.

My Advice: Stand up for yourself. Advocate for a Doctorate-level Psychologist who specializes in trauma. Ask about their education. Ask if they provide evidence-based therapy or just 'talk' therapy. I didn't get the help I needed for years because I dropped my standards and allowed the system to give me substitutes.
Don't make that mistake.
Stand up for YOU.

It is a "follow the money" situation. Insurance companies generally reimburse Master's-level clinicians (LCSWs/LCPCs) at a significantly lower rate—often 20% to 40% less—than they pay Doctorate-level Psychologists for the exact same "billing code." By making these clinicians the "standard" for diagnosis, insurance companies save billions.

This "confusion" is actually a financial strategy:
The "Reimbursement Gap" Facts:
The Cost-Saving Shift: Since the early 2000s, many insurance networks have "narrowed" their lists.
They often make it much harder for a Psychologist to join the network than a Social Worker, simply because the Psychologist costs them more per hour.

The "Scope of Practice" Lobby: Major insurance groups have historically supported legislation that allows Master's-level providers to practice independently. While the public is told this is for "access to care," it also serves to create a cheaper labor market for mental health services.

The "Diagnostic" Loophole: Insurance requires a DSM-5 code (a diagnosis) to pay for any session. By allowing Master’s-level providers to provide that code, insurance can keep the entire treatment process within a lower-cost bracket.

Why you are being steered away from Psychologists:

Lower Pay:
Insurance pays Social Workers and Counselors significantly less than Psychologists.

Limited Testing:
Insurance often refuses to pay for the deep "Psychological Testing" that only Psychologists can do, preferring a quick "diagnostic impression" from a lower-cost provider.

Network Squeeze:
It is often harder to find a Psychologist "in-network" because insurance companies don't want to pay their higher doctorate-level rates.

Final Advice:
"Don't let an insurance company's bottom line dictate the
This frames your argument not just as a preference for education, but as a fight against corporate greed interfering with medical care.

*xualabuse

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

Did you know that the symptoms of trauma from childhood abuse can be diagnosed in some people as CPTSD and is considered just like or ? Here are some similarities..... By the way if you need help with diagnosis seek out a trauma informed psychologist.

03/15/2026

💕 Dear healing person,

03/15/2026

03/12/2026

Abuse survivors, I know that the Epstein stories are hurting your ears. If youre losing hope in justice, don't. I hear you, and I believe you. The system IS broken in a lot of ways — but it's not hopeless, and you are not alone.

Here's what I want you to know:

JUSTICE IS STILL POSSIBLE

Survivor-led advocacy has actually changed laws. Statutes of limitations for child s*xual abuse have been extended or eliminated in many US states and in Ireland.
The Epstein case itself — while deeply imperfect — only moved forward because survivors kept pushing.
Justice doesn't always look like a courtroom conviction. It can also mean having your story believed, documented, and used to protect others.

REPORTING STILL MATTERS

I know that's hard to hear when you've been burned. But reports create patterns. Even if one report doesn't lead to an arrest, it can be the piece that connects to other reports and eventually builds a case.
Many trafficking prosecutions only happened because multiple survivors reported over time.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE

You don't have to walk into a police station by yourself. There are people whose whole job is to stand between you and the system:

• In the US: National Human Trafficking Hotline — 1-888-373-7888 (call or text). They take reports and connect you with local advocates.
• Victim advocates can go WITH you to the police, to court, through every step. In the US every state has victim advocacy programmes. Some r**e Crisis Centres provide accompaniment services.

A SAFE FIRST STEP

If you're not ready to talk to a person yet, AI tools like Claude (by Anthropic) can help you privately — organise your thoughts, research your rights, figure out what options exist where you live, draft letters to request your own medical or legal records.
It's patient, it doesn't judge, and it's available any time of day.
It's not a substitute for professional support, but it can be a safe starting point when everything feels overwhelming.

ON SELF-BLAME

To anyone telling themselves "I kept putting myself in bad situations" — traffickers and abusers are skilled at creating situations where you had no good options.
That's on THEM, not on you. Hearing that reframe for the first time can be life-changing, so I'll say it again: it was not your fault.

You deserve justice. And there are people and tools ready to help you fight for it. 💛

11/20/2025

Epstein Files Reminder: USA has a child marriage epidemic—it's even worse than you think

Despite more than 300,000 documented child marriages since 2000, Republicans are fighting to keep it that way

The Epstein files revelations become more horrifying with each new piece of information released. Similarly, a new Times piece reports that former Congressman Matt Gaetz r**ed a homeless 17-year-old child, luring her in by paying for her braces. In South Carolina, Judge James B. Gosnell, Jr—who called on the families of the victims of Dylann Roof to forgive Roof—has himself been removed from the bench due to possession of child po*******hy. And in Oklahoma, Judge Susan Worthington let a man named Jesse Butler walk with no prison—despite video evidence of him ra**ng two teen girls over a period of several months, and nearly choking them to death.

The first purpose of this article is to document how these cases of abuse are not isolated, but part of the systemic abuse children face in 2025 America. The second purpose of this article is to provide meaningful steps we must take to stop this abuse.

To this day in 2025, thousands of children are forced into child marriage in the United States—and Republicans seem to want to keep it that way. With several thousand documented child marriages every single year—some involving as children as young as 10—we need need legislative solutions and penalties for those who exploit children. Let’s Address This.

How Widespread Is Child Marriage in America?

Despite widespread condemnation and international treaties against it, child marriage continues in the United States unabated. As reported in numerous outlets including the Washington Post and The Independent:

At least 207,468 minors married in the US between 2000 and 2015, according to data compiled by Unchained At Last, a group campaigning to abolish child marriage, and investigative documentary series Frontline. The true figure is likely to be much higher because 10 states provided no or incomplete statistics.

The youngest wedded were three 10-year-old girls in Tennessee who married men aged 24, 25 and 31 in 2001. The youngest groom was an 11-year-old who married a 27-year-old woman in the same state in 2006. Children as young as 12 were granted marriage licenses in Alaska, Louisiana and South Carolina, while 11 other states allowed 13-year-olds to wed. More than 1,000 children aged 14 or under were granted marriage licenses.

And the problem persists. Unchained At Last conducted another study in 2021 and found more than 300,000 documented cases of child marriage, as reported by Rolling Stone:

A 2021 study by the advocacy group Unchained at Last found that 300,000 minors were married between 2000 and 2018 in the United States. According to the group, 60,000 of those marriages involved an age difference that would have otherwise been considered a s*x crime.

Remember, this is yet incomplete data as 10 states do not adequately report this data. But there’s yet another element of horror to this situation. In many states, children who are married cannot divorce—making child marriage a daunting one way ticket. As divorce lawyer Nancy Zalusky Berg explains:

A minor can’t file for a divorce because they’re not considered old enough to do it. That’s because marriage is considered a contract, and most laws stipulate that only adults can enter into contracts. So, if a minor wants to change their marriage contract, they need an adult to help them do it.

Who Is Perpetuating This Injustice?

While child marriage is a nationwide problem, Republican states lead the way. Nine of the top 10 states with leading rates of child marriage are GOP run states, as follows:

1. Nevada (0.671%)
2. Idaho (0.338%)
3. Arkansas (0.295%)
4. Kentucky (0.262%)
5. Oklahoma (0.229%)
6. Wyoming (0.227%)
7. Utah (0.208%)
8. Alabama (0.195%)
9. West Virginia (0.193%)
10. Mississippi (0.182%)

This epidemic persists under the radar, often defended and protected by lawmakers, particularly within the Republican Party, who cite tradition, religion, and a shocking misinterpretation of maturity and readiness. The latest absurd argument is that child marriage is better than abortion—notwithstanding that states that ban abortion also suffer at least a 24% increase in maternal mortality and have the highest rate of infant mortality as well.

West Virginia and Wyoming Republicans have also launched efforts to protect child marriage. And in New Hampshire, as recently as 2018, child marriage was legal for girls as young as 13 and boys as young as 14. This is particularly concerning because about 86% of child marriages are of young girls to male adults. Worse, efforts to ban child marriage in New Hampshire faced opposition from legislators when 174 Republicans voted against a bill to ban child marriage. One Republican lawmaker, State Representative Jess Edwards, described teen girls as “ripe and fertile”—utterly indefensible and horrifying remarks.

Missouri told a similar story, where Republicans tried for years to block attempts to raise the marriage age by arguing for “parental rights and traditional values.” As reported by the Missouri Independent:

The current law allows children aged 16 and 17 to marry with parental consent and younger children to marry with a judge’s approval. Until the legislature voted to raise the minimum marriage age to 16 in 2018, Missouri had among the most lenient child marriage laws in the nation — making it an especially popular state for 15-year-olds to travel to be married. Despite the 2018 change, Missouri law still does not align with international human rights standards, which set the minimum age at 18. [A]round 70 minors every year are entered into marriage in Missouri.

Finally, in July of 2025, Missouri banned child marriage once and for all. And the fact is, this hypocrisy extends beyond child marriage. The Republican Party, which often claims to champion the protection of children, also supports policies that endanger and undermine the well-being of minors. They are proponents of child labor laws, opponents of free school lunches for children, adversaries of the child tax credit, and critics of Medicaid expansion, which disproportionately benefits low-income children.

Doesn’t International Law Ban Child Marriage?

Surely international laws ban child marriage, right? Well, it’s sort of a good news/bad news situation.

The good news is yes, several international laws and treaties ban child marriage. For example, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) calls for action to specify a minimum marriage age of 18. Therefore, any U.S. state law which forces minors into marriage is a de facto violation of CEDAW.

The tragic bad news is that while 186 of 193 countries have ratified the CEDAW treaty, the United States shamefully remains as one of only seven countries that has to date refused to ratify it. The United States joins Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Nauru, Palau, and Tonga on this indefensible list. Therefore, CEDAW does not apply in the United States. Meanwhile, no Federal legislation exists to ban child marriage in the United States.

What Are The Solutions To This Injustice?

We need bipartisan unity to stop this injustice. Because all of the above notwithstanding, Democrats aren’t off the hook either, and must do better. As documented by UNICEF, only Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Virginia, and New Hampshire just recently in 2024, have banned child marriage under the age of 18. That leaves 37 states where child marriage is still legal and recognized. It’s long past time for change. Children forced into child marriages are often helpless, but we as adults, are not.

So what can you do as an adult?

We are not helpless, and we need to stand up for children who are. Here are four things each of us can do:

1. The leading organization to help pass bans on child marriage is Unchained At Last. Visit their website, sign up for their newsletter, and if you can, contribute to their cause. Follow through on their calls to action.

2. Call upon your state lawmakers to end this harmful practice and align with modern standards of human rights and dignity. We can do so by pressuring state lawmakers to ban child marriage on the state level, in every state.

3. Pressure federal lawmakers to pass federal legislation banning child marriage and let the Supremacy Clause quash all child marriage laws. That will immediately grant children the power of federal law to protect them from this systemic abuse.

4. Demand the White House and Congress to ratify CEDAW and bring the United States up to speed with the vast majority of humanity.

Conclusion

The DOJ estimates that Epstein and his fellow child abusers trafficked at least 200 children. Meanwhile, experts estimate that in 2025, roughly 2600 minors were forced into a child marriage in the United States. That’s some 50 minors every week, or about seven per day, every single day of the year. And unless we act immediately, that trend is expected to continue in 2026. That number must come down to zero.

Therefore, as the Epstein saga plays out, I encourage each of my readers to seek justices for the hundreds of Epstein victims, and likewise, utilize the heightened media attention on the abuse of children into meaningful protections for children. It is critical we continue to speak up, create more awareness, and bring about this life saving change for children’s rights in the United States.

I will continue to speak out on these injustices and report on these atrocities, even as corporate media remains silent. I welcome your support below to help foster more dialogue, education, and meaningful calls to action to fight back against this horrific, systemic, and preventable abuse of our children.

——
Read full article here with links and receipts: https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/epstein-files-reminder-usa-has-a

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