How Do I Know If I Have Been in a Coercive Relationship?

Coercive control does not always involve shouting or physical violence. It can be quiet, systematic, and invisible to everyone around you. You may have felt like you were walking on eggshells, constantly adjusting your behaviour to avoid conflict. You may have been told that your feelings were wrong, that you were too sensitive, or that no one else would put up with you. Some common patterns include: controlling finances, monitoring your phone or social media, dictating who you can see or where you can go, using children or pets as leverage, making threats that are veiled enough to deny, and creating an atmosphere where you felt you could not speak freely. If any of this sounds familiar, you are not overreacting. Coercive control is recognised as a form of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Naming it does not mean you have to take any particular action , but it can help you make sense of what you have been through. Therapy provides a safe space to explore these experiences without judgement. You do not need to have a clear picture of what happened before you start.