Coercive Control

Discover how coercive control affects relationships and how to begin rebuilding your independence.

  • Backhanded Gifts and Silent Insults: When “Kindness” Comes With a Knife

    Backhanded Gifts and Silent Insults: When “Kindness” Comes With a Knife

    It never ends quietly. Not when you’re dealing with someone who craves control more than connection. Today, my kids got packages from their father — gifts delivered straight from Amazon, carefully chosen with just enough sweetness to pass as thoughtful… but soaked in judgment and surveillance. One got a phone holder to help record guitar videos. That’s nice, right? Except it came with not one, but two containers of acne medication. Unsolicited. Unasked for. Unnecessary. This child had already had the courage to face their insecurities and see a dermatologist a month ago. He is on a treatment plan. But of course, their father didn’t ask. He just sent a…