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Teal Love, Decoded blog cover with handwritten script and the title ‘When Speaking Honestly Carries a Cost in Your Relationship’.
When the Problem Wasn’t What You Said - But What Happened After You Said It covert control emotional withdrawal power imbalance relationship dynamics self-doubt walking on eggshells Feb 09, 2026

She could describe the arguments in extraordinary detail.

Not just the words - the order they came in, the tone shifts, the moment the air in the room changed. She could tell you exactly which sentence escalated things, which question shut everything down, which attempt at calm explanation made it ...

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Love, Decoded cover — “Why You Keep Thinking 'It Wasn't That Bad' After a Toxic Relationship" with subline “The psychology behind minimising abuse & how to reclaim your reality"
The “It Wasn’t That Bad” Trap - And Why It’s Hard to See the Truth abuse recovery minimisation self-doubt toxic relationships trauma Aug 11, 2025

You replay the arguments in your head.
You remember the moments they were kind.
And before you know it, the thought slips in:

“Maybe it wasn’t that bad.”

If you’ve ever found yourself downplaying a relationship’s damage - even one that left you drained, anxious, or questioning yourself - you’re no...

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Eve Howe-Robinson

Founder: The Healthy Relationship Company

With a decade in psychology and domestic abuse intervention, I blend evidence, empathy, and lived experience to help you heal, grow, and build something better?

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