Here’s how to know if a friend or family member could be a victim of mental abuse and what you can do to help them. Emotional abuse, unlike physical abuse, can be so subtle and insidious that friends, family and even the victims themselves may not recognize the toxic dynamics at play. At first, the emotionally abusive partner may act in ways that appear loving and attentive on the surface — all part of the “grooming process” to win over...

By Vanessa Marin – Feb. 2019   It’s an especially difficult time to be a survivor of sexual abuse or assault. On top of the daily struggle to stay safe and healthy, sexual abuse survivors also have to contend with an endlessly triggering news cycle. If you’re not a survivor yourself but you’re close to one — maybe a partner, friend or family member — you may not be able to fully understand what they’re going through, and you may feel...

Ten (understandable) reasons why victims of sexual assault do not report. Being sexually assaulted in one of the most shame-inducing traumas that a person can experience. So it is understandable that victims don’t need to be further shamed by being shamed for not reporting the crime. And yet, that is exactly what happens whenever we hear, for the first time, about a sexual assault that occurred months or years ago. “Why didn’t she report it...

Beverly Engel contributes to the discussions on USA Today A lawyer who had represented a second woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of a long-ago sexual assault said Tuesday she stands by her account and is in the process of obtaining a Washington, D.C., lawyer. (Sept. 25) AP As Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faced allegations of sexual assault from Christine Blasey Ford, President Donald Trump came to his defense. “It’s a...

Why more women don’t report sexual assaults: A survivor speaks out. “Victims are often too ashamed to come forward. Sexual assault is a very humiliating and dehumanizing act against someone. The person really feels invaded and defiled, and there is a lot of shame attached to that,” Engel told ABC News. She continued, “Attached to that shame is a lot of self-blame. Victims of sexual assault almost always blame themselves,...

Emotional abuse can be difficult to recognize The scars left by emotional abuse may not be visible to the eye, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less painful to endure. While physical abuse is easy to recognize, emotional abuse can be less obvious. It’s crucial to know what to look for, whether you’re the victim or a family member or friend of someone who’s struggling. “Months or years of being emotionally abused can cause you to distrust your...