Why She Stayed

A podcast where we dive deep into what really goes on inside of domestic violence relationships that makes it so hard to simply "just leave". Through stories of survivors, and practical conversations with guests, I am going to put the microscope back on what the abuser is doing that causes us to become so trapped in the first place, and how each survivor was eventually freed. We will discuss what abusive relationships look like, sound like, and feel like for the purpose of educating and relating to one another in a much needed way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why She Stayed is a society podcast hosted by Grace Stuart, with 90 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Grace Stuart hosts Why She Stayed, a society show with 90 episodes published.

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  Episode #100

  Ep. 100: Could the Word "Narcissist" Be Setting Us Back?

  Sep 29, 202644 minS1

  In this episode, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on whether the word “narcissist” may actually be setting us back when it comes to understanding abuse and coercive control. We talk about why focusing so heavily on whether an abusive person is a “narcissist” can sometimes distract from what matters most: the behavior, the patterns, the power dynamics, and the impact of the abuse. I share my perspective on why I think it’s worth taking a step back from the narcissism conversation and looking more closely at coercive control and the dynamics of abuse. A Resource for Survivors: If you’re looking for additional support, check out Aimee Says , an AI tool designed to help survivors of domestic abuse. Use code GRACE at checkout: https://www.aimeesays.com/en/plan/select Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #99

  99: "“You Always Leave Right When I’m About to Turn a Corner”

  Sep 22, 20261h 8mS1

  In this episode, Helen shares her story of the subtle ways coercive control made her believe that she was the problem. She shares how he repeatedly blamed her for leaving “right when he was about to get things right,” pressured her sexually by suggesting other women would pursue him if she wasn't "his covering, and even involved their children by asking, “Do you want Dad to have to get a girlfriend?” Helen also describes how he compared her to other women and used criticism about her being “clumsy” to make her second-guess herself and constantly walk on eggshells. What looked like frustration, disappointment, or relationship problems was part of a larger pattern designed to shift the blame onto Helen and keep her focused on fixing herself. Aimee Says AI Tool: https://www.aimeesays.com/en/plan/select Use Code GRACE at checkout for a discount. Helen's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/helennataliec/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #98

  98: What Change Does Not Look Like & How to Test Them

  Sep 15, 202648 minS1

  How do you know when an abuser’s “change” is actually just another form of control? In this episode, I break down the clear signs that an abusive person is not truly changing , including real text messaging examples and behaviors you may see after leaving. I also talk about how you can respond in a way that gives you greater clarity and helps you recognize a stream of clues that the change is performative or temporary. We’ll talk about using boundary setting as a tool for yourself ( not because you expect a coercive controller to respect your boundary indefinitely), but because a boundary can create a marker for YOU to refer back to. Their response to that boundary can give you a stream of new evidence to help you remain focused while you are away from them. If you’re struggling to determine whether someone is truly changing or simply changing tactics, this episode is for you. Aimee Says AI Tool: https://www.aimeesays.com/en/plan/select - use code GRACE for a discount. Abusive Men Describe the Benefits of Violence Article: https://www.bwss.org/abusive-men-describe-the-benefits-of-violence/ Quotes used from the book "Why Does He Do That" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #97

  97: The #1 Thing You Must Know About Abuse For a Lasting Breakthrough

  Sep 2, 202633 minS1

  If you never read another book, listen to another podcast, or consume another piece of content about abuse, there is one thing I want you to understand: If you continue looking at your relationship through an incident-based lens , you will always end up asking the wrong questions. You’ll focus on individual moments — What did he say? What did I say? What happened right before the argument? Could I have handled that differently? Did I contribute to this? each incident, it becomes incredibly easy to conclude that you could have done something differently. That is exactly why pattern-based thinking is so important. Instead of examining each incident as though it exists independently, pattern-based thinking asks you to step back and look at what is happening over time . What function does his behavior serve? What does it consistently produce? What happens to you as a result? The more you analyze individual incidents, the easier it becomes to put yourself on trial. An incident-based lens can leave you endlessly trying to solve individual moments. A pattern-based lens allows you to finally see the system you are living inside. Write These Questions Down As you listen, I want you to write these questions down and begin applying them to the interactions you have experienced: What is the function? What outcome is this producing? Why does this work? What about this is effective? How does this destabilize me? What is the sentence designed to do? What is the impact on me? How does this erode my clarity? These questions move you away from “What happened in this one argument?” and toward “What is this behavior accomplishing within the larger pattern?” That shift can change everything. Aimee Says Link: https://www.aimeesays.com/en/home?via=grace Use Code "GRACE" for a discount. Schedule a 1:1 with me here: https://linktr.ee/gracestuart01?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAcGRvZgJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAadSCqIThrr8DL-EI5lNwPKf4xpSvBk5gz2uryK-e1VOqEVdiXi2-vlkNuEVTw_aem_HJGz5_nmZ5wQrP2wQInssw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Why She Stayed

  96: "You’re Making an Elephant Out of a Mosquito"

  Aug 25, 20261h 26m

  In this episode, I sit down with Wednesday to talk about how the nervous system can become attached to predictability—even when that predictability is harmful—and how an abuser can become both the poison and the antidote, the distress and the comfort. Wednesday shares how her ex used martial arts, clumsiness, and “accidents” to explain away physical trespasses—creating just enough "truth" to make her question what was actually happening. We also unpack: Why we sometimes wish our abuser would do something obvious enough to finally give us permission to leave. How early lack of commitment can look like the opposite of control , making us chase harder and overlook warning signs. “Why are you making me out to be the bad guy?” / “You think I’m some kind of monster?” / “Why do you always assume the worst of me?” How phrases like “You’re making an elephant out of a mosquito” turn legitimate concerns into evidence that we are the problem. Why physical abuse is so often accompanied by an explanation: “I didn’t slam the door on you—you didn’t move.” “I didn’t kick you—you walked into my foot.” “I wasn’t pushing you—I was trying to calm you down.” How an impending exit date can change an abuser’s behavior—less arguing, more emotional withdrawal, and a relationship that suddenly appears “peaceful,” making you question whether leaving is really necessary. Links & Codes: Aimee Says Code: Use code GRACE at checkout: https://www.aimeesays.com/en/plan/select "If He Hit Me I Would Leave" Poem: https://emmarosebyham.substack.com/p/if-he-hit-me-i-would-leave-him Guest's Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/wednesdaysamantha/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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