Healing from an Abusive Relationship

Neha is 32. When she talks about her past, she often pauses. She left a five-year abusive marriage a few months ago, but the memories still come back like waves. Sometimes it’s anger. Sometimes it’s sadness. Sometimes it’s a confusing ache she can’t name. More than anything, she feels guilty for staying as long as she did.

At first, she was completely lost when it came to those feelings. Her friends would urge her to just “move on,” but that was easier said than done. It wasn’t until therapy that she finally voiced what had been weighing her down — she couldn’t distinguish between genuine love and the attachment she was clinging to. With our guidance, she learned to take a step back, breathe, and take things one small step at a time.

She began taking walks again. She called an old college friend. She started a list of personal goals, not big ones, just tiny steps like cooking for herself or reading before bed.

It wasn’t magic. Some days she slid back into self-doubt. But gradually, her sleep improved. She stopped blaming herself quite so harshly. She started setting clearer boundaries with people who drained her energy. Journaling became a new practice for her, where she focused on what she truly wanted in a healthy relationship, rather than just what she wanted to escape from.
Neha now shares that she feels “a little more like me” again. She’s not “fixed” — and she understands that healing isn’t a straightforward journey — but she can envision a future that’s truly hers. With the help of therapy, a bit of patience, and reconnecting with her core values, she found the support she needed to begin her climb out of the darkness.

A Key Takeaway: Healing from trauma is a slow, messy, and deeply personal process. Having support from a trusted mental health professional can be invaluable in helping you rebuild your confidence, reclaim your mental wellness, and carve out a space for genuine peace.