EPISODE 16 : Faith, Abuse, and Finding Freedom — with Detra Part II

In this episode, I sat down with my friend Detra for part two of our conversation about moving through and out of emotionally abusive marriages, especially within church settings. Both of us spent decades in marriages that looked “godly” on the outside, mine was 31 years, Detra’s was 34. What we uncovered were the hidden patterns that kept us small, confused, and convinced that silence equaled faithfulness.

We talked about:

• How church culture can hide or excuse emotional abuse under “submission”

• The subtle manipulation and gaslighting that wear you down over time

• The healing that comes from good therapy and solid truth-based support

• The CORE principles from The Emotionally Destructive Marriage by Leslie Vernick

• The freedom and clarity that follow leaving toxic environments

This one’s for anyone still questioning if what they’re living through is “bad enough.” You’re not crazy. You’re not faithless. And you don’t have to keep giving yourself up to prove your worth.

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