Why don’t abuse victims leave the relationship? The world can look at someone who is clearly being abused by their partner and say things like, “Why don’t you just leave?” But the abuse victim’s reality is a lot different from those who’ve not experienced what it’s like to have an abused mind.
Their perceptions and beliefs about the world are entirely different than ours so leaving isn’t the easy path others make it out to be. Segment 1 is all about the perspective of the abuse victim and why it’s not as easy to leave the abuser as it may appear to others.
In segment two I tackle the dynamics of when a step-parent enters into a family. It can be very difficult to not be seen as a replacement for “Mom” or “Dad”, but it is often the perception of the step-children of what’s happening in the family.
There is a way for the new step-parent to become more welcome and maybe even gain trust and respect from their partner’s children. The path to step-parenthood involves an approach that may be a bit un-parent like.
During the close of the show, I address what really happens when you honor yourself. The people you thought were friends might disappear from your life. The loss could be hard but there’s so much more to gain.
Tune into the Love and Abuse podcast to help you learn how to navigate difficult relationships
![]() | Paul Colaianni Paul Colaianni is an Emotional Abuse Expert and Behavior and Relationship Specialist who has been analyzing complex relationship dynamics since 2010. As the creator of the Healed Being program and host of the top-rated Love and Abuse and The Overwhelmed Brain podcasts, with over 21 million downloads worldwide, he specializes in helping people recognize hidden manipulation, navigate emotionally abusive relationships, and empower themselves to make informed decisions. |

