Should I Stay or Should I Go? Part 1 - Abuse, Attachment, and Complex Trauma

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of abuse in relationships, particularly for adults with complex trauma, and offers insights on recognizing and navigating these dynamics.

If you’re asking yourself “Should I stay or should I go?” in your relationship, you’re not alone—and for adults with complex trauma, this question can feel especially consuming. In this episode of Adventures in Relationship , we take an honest, nuanced look at abuse in relationships—moving beyond black-and-white thinking to explore the complicated reality many trauma survivors face. You’ll learn how to recognize different forms of abuse, including emotional abuse, verbal abuse, coercion, gaslighting, and control—and why these dynamics can be difficult to identify, especially when they don’t leave visible marks. We also explore the difference between abuse in a relationship and a fundamentally abusive relationship , and why that distinction matters when you’re trying to decide whether your relationship is salvageable. This episode unpacks: Why adults with complex trauma are more vulnerable to abusive relationship dynamics How attachment styles and personality patterns (including narcissistic, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized traits) can shape abusive behavior Subtle signs of emotional abuse—like walking on eggshells, chronic self-doubt, and losing your internal compass Why many…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Gordon

Topics covered

• abuse in relationships
• complex trauma
• attachment styles
• emotional abuse
• narcissistic traits
• high-conflict dynamics

Keywords

• abuse
• complex trauma
• attachment styles
• emotional abuse
• gaslighting
• relationship dynamics
• self-doubt
• safety
• narcissism

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