“Maybe It’s Me” Recognizing Emotional Abuse and Rebuilding Your Inner Compass.
Morgan, Weber County, Davis County, Salt Lake County
If you keep thinking “maybe it’s me,” you’re not broken, you’re confused. And that confusion might be the point.
What to watch for
Emotional abuse isn’t always so obvious. Sometimes it’s just apologizing constantly to avoid conflict, always having to apologize, placating your partner to avoid “ruffling their feathers,” having your feelings dismissed as “too sensitive,” or walking away from conversations disoriented. The rules keep changing so you can never get it right, and warmth only shows up when you comply.
Healthy relationships have conflict, but they don’t make you disappear.
What it feels like inside
You might find yourself rehearsing conversations to avoid setting them off, doubting your own memory, or feeling nervous before simple talks. The thing is, you’re having to make yourself smaller just to get through the day, just to survive. That’s not paranoia, that’s a pattern.
Small ways back to yourself
You don’t need a dramatic exit plan. Just start somewhere. Name what happened, even quietly, “That was disrespectful.” “That’s happening again.” Also to protect yourself from being gaslit, write down what happened and how you felt, not to prove anything but to believe in your experience. Then try one boundary like, “I won’t continue this conversation if you insult me.” Tell one safe person, because silence keeps you stuck and connection brings clarity.
If you’re wondering whether it’s “bad enough” to matter, here’s your answer: If it hurts, it counts.
You don’t need permission to trust yourself again.
Reach Out
If you're looking for depression support in Morgan, Weber County, Davis County, or Salt Lake County, Stillbrook Counseling is here to help. I offer in-person and telehealth therapy across Utah, so getting started is simple no matter where you are. Stillbrook Counseling is in-network with SelectHealth, Regence, Blue Cross, and PEHP, making quality mental health care more accessible for individuals and families throughout the region. If any of the signs described in this post feel familiar, reaching out is a good first step. You don't have to figure this out alone.