Picking up where we left off, I’m diving into the vital question everyone keeps asking: “If it was that bad, why didn’t she just leave?” With my incredible co-host, criminal behavioral analyst Laura Richards by my side, we unpack the real mechanics behind coercive control, trauma bonding, and why leaving an abusive relationship is never as simple as it seems.

Laura breaks down expert testimony, practical warning signs, and how cultural myths keep victims trapped—while offering tangible ways for women to identify and reclaim their autonomy.

In this episode, we spotlight the power of knowledge, advocacy, and why changing the law is crucial for women’s safety. Whether you’re questioning your own relationship or looking to help a friend, this show delivers deeply personal insights and concrete tools for recognizing manipulation and abuse.

SHOWNOTES

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  Why victims of abuse can’t “just leave”: The truth behind manipulation and entrapment

  
  


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  [00:00:46 ] Dr. Dawn Hughes’s court testimony—explaining trauma bonding, cycles of abuse, and coping mechanisms

  
  


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  Grooming, love bombing, and why abusers alternate between charm and cruelty

  
  


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  [00:03:38 ] Violent resistance and why “fighting back” can be even more dangerous

  
  


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  The law’s failure to recognize coercive control—and its real-world impact on survivors

  
  


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  Laura’s checklist: Signs you’re in a coercively controlling relationship

  
  


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  The isolating power of charm, threats, and double standards in abusive dynamics

  
  


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  Economic and sexual abuse as tools to limit agency and sustain dependency

  
  


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  [00:25:02 ] The trauma bond: Why crisis can push victims closer to abusers, not further away

  
  


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  Where to get more information and support—including quizzes, resources, and direct expert help

  
  

  
  

  
  

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