After The Quiet

In Episode 87 of After the Quiet , I share one of the most difficult chapters of my story. As the coercive control in my marriage intensified, I began keeping a notebook to document the accusations, late-night interrogations, and gaslighting because I no longer trusted my own memory. I was living in survival mode, losing weight, experiencing constant anxiety, and waking each day unsure of what emo...

What happens when someone repeatedly forces you to imagine losing everything you love—only to pretend the conversation never happened the next day? In Episode 86 of After the Quiet , I share one of the most psychologically damaging forms of coercive control I experienced. My husband would wake me in the middle of the night, hand me a laptop, and make me create lists of what each of us would get "i...

In Episode 85 of After the Quiet , I share how my husband's paranoia and need for control escalated into relentless surveillance. The constant text messages never stopped. My phone was regularly searched, my privacy disappeared, and every interaction became something I was forced to defend. When suspicion becomes a tool of control, exhaustion becomes a way of life. This episode explores the hidden...

Can emotional abuse follow you into the workplace? In Episode 84 of After the Quiet , I share how my husband threatened to contact my employer unless I took a leave of absence from teaching. What appeared to be concern for my mental health was, in reality, another attempt to control my career, independence, and future. This episode explores coercive control, workplace intimidation, emotional abuse...

Can your partner control you through money? In Episode 83 of After the Quiet , I discuss discovering thousands of dollars missing from my bank account, the financial abuse that followed, and the terrifying threats made after my husband learned I had contacted a lawyer. Through therapy, I began to understand that abuse isn't just physical—it can include financial control, intimidation, and making s...

What happens when you finally recognize your own story in someone else's? In Episode 82 of After the Quiet , I share how watching a television program about a controlling marriage led me to recognize the signs of coercive control in my own life. From relentless accusations of cheating and panic attacks to seeking therapy and hearing the words, "You're being abused," this episode explores emotional...

In Episode 81 of After the Quiet, I share how a staff Christmas party became another opportunity for control, criticism, and emotional abuse. After previously agreeing that I could stay overnight at a friend's house, my husband suddenly changed the rules and accused me of being a bad mother. The relentless berating pushed me to my breaking point, leading me to disappear for an entire day just to e...

Why would someone demand to see your phone while you're sleeping? In Episode 80 of After the Quiet, I discuss the reality of coercive control, digital surveillance, phone monitoring, social media accusations, and the panic attacks that followed. This personal story sheds light on how emotional abuse can erode privacy, increase anxiety, and leave lasting impacts on mental health.

In Episode 79 of After the Quiet , I share the story of a neighbourhood conflict that escalated far beyond a simple disagreement. What began as ongoing disputes with neighbours eventually led to police involvement, criminal mischief charges, and a courtroom filled with evidence documenting years of escalating behaviour. As neighbours gathered videos, submitted supporting letters, and demanded acco...

In Episode 78 of After the Quiet , I share how my decision to start a fitness and nutrition program became another target for criticism in my marriage. After years of being told I needed to lose weight, exercise more, and take better care of myself, I finally found a routine that worked. I was seeing results, gaining confidence, and feeling healthier than I had in years. But instead of encourageme...

In Episode 77 of After the Quiet , I share the moment friends and neighbours witnessed the way my husband spoke to me behind closed doors. What began as a casual afternoon around the pool with food, drinks, and conversation quickly turned uncomfortable when he publicly ridiculed me for wanting to attend a year-end staff social with my coworkers. As he mocked my interests and questioned whether I s...

In Episode 76 of After the Quiet , I share how criticism of my appearance became another tool of control within my marriage. What began with a simple haircut quickly revealed a much deeper pattern of body shaming, insults, and attacks on my self-esteem. I was told I wasn't attractive, that I dressed poorly, that I needed to lose weight, and that I looked old. Over time, those comments chipped away...

In Episode 75 of After the Quiet , I share the story of a family reunion in Mont Tremblant that was meant to bring generations together and create lasting memories. Despite my excitement to spend time with family, reconnect with relatives, and watch my children build relationships with their cousins, the trip became another example of emotional distance and isolation within my marriage. After init...

In Episode 74 of After the Quiet , I share my experience attending the motorcycle club ceremony where my husband officially became a patched member after more than a year as a prospect. While he viewed the event as a major achievement, I quickly realized I had stepped into a culture that felt completely foreign to me. From being introduced solely as "his wife" to learning that members' spouses wer...

In Episode 73 of After the Quiet , I share the story of a girls' night out that unexpectedly became another turning point in my understanding of control and isolation. After attending a surprise birthday celebration for a friend, I made the responsible decision not to drive home after drinking alcohol. Instead, I stayed overnight at a friend's family member's house and informed my husband exactly...

In Episode 72 of After the Quiet , I share how two close workplace friendships became another source of tension and control in my marriage. When a friend experienced a devastating late-term pregnancy loss, another coworker and I wanted to support her by planning a girls' getaway. What seemed like a simple act of friendship was quickly dismissed and shut down at home. At the same time, I found myse...

In Episode 71 of After the Quiet , I share the story behind the backyard pool we built after selling our family trailer. What started as a dream of creating summer memories for our children quickly became another example of mismatched priorities, emotional neglect, and the pressure to protect appearances at all costs. After taking on a significant loan to create the ultimate backyard oasis—complet...

In Episode 70 of After the Quiet , I share the story of my middle son's journey into competitive rep soccer and the sacrifices our family made to support his talent. From weeknight practices to early morning games across the region, I became the parent responsible for getting him where he needed to be while juggling two other children and a marriage that increasingly felt one-sided. This episode e...

In Episode 69 of After the Quiet , I share a deeply meaningful moment when my husband's cousin's daughter asked me to be her Confirmation sponsor. What should have been a joyful and affirming experience quickly became another source of criticism, jealousy, and emotional manipulation. Instead of celebrating the honour, I found myself defending why I deserved it. This episode explores emotional abus...

In Episode 68 of After the Quiet , I share how my husband's involvement in a motorcycle club gradually consumed more and more of his time, leaving me to manage the household and raise our children largely on my own. What started as a hobby I supported quickly became another commitment that took priority over family plans, weekends together, and meaningful time with our children. This episode explo...

In Episode 67 of After the Quiet , I share how an accident on the very first day of school in a brand-new building led to a fractured wrist, surgery, and one of the clearest examples of emotional neglect in my marriage. While recovering from broken bones, surgery, and severe pain, I was still expected to manage the household, care for the children, and meet everyone else's needs—with little to no...

In Episode 66 of After the Quiet , I share how accepting the opportunity to help open a brand new school became another source of anger and control in my marriage. What should have been an exciting and empowering professional milestone was met with jealousy, criticism, and accusations that I wanted attention or was becoming “too involved” in my career. As I stepped into a creative, collaborative s...

In Episode 65 of After the Quiet , I share the painful moment I was told I couldn’t attend a concert by my favourite artist because it was considered “frivolous” spending—only for that artist to pass away weeks later. What seemed like an argument about money was actually something much deeper: control over joy, independence, and self-worth. This episode explores financial abuse, emotional manipula...

In Episode 64 of After the Quiet , I share the night I broke my ankle at my children’s soccer practice—and was left to deal with it completely alone. What began as a simple accident quickly revealed something much deeper: a pattern of emotional neglect, dismissal, and coercive control that had become normalized in my marriage. As I struggled in pain, cared for my children from the couch, and event...

In Episode 63 of After the Quiet , I share one of the most painful chapters of my life—losing my aunt and my father while living under intense coercive control. As my aunt battled terminal cancer, I was prevented from visiting her before she passed away. Shortly afterward, my father was hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia, and once again, control and manipulation limited the time I could spend...