Episode Details

If you’re searching for warning signs your husband is dangerous it’s important to know that many victims “only” experience emotional abuse until . . .

Anne Blythe, founder of Betrayal Trauma Recovery, talks to Dave Cawley, host of the Cold podcast series, about the Susan Powell case, empowering victims to protect themselves and seek safety now.

This Is the First Episode With Dave Cawley
Warning Signs Your Husband Is Dangerous – Susan’s Story With Dave Cawley (THIS EPISODE)
Patterns To Look Out For In Your Relationship

Abuse Doesn’t Always Mean Physical Battering

Many abuse victims do not have proof. They don’t have bruises or broken bones to show the world that their partner is abusing them.

Instead, their bruises and brokenness are hidden beneath the surface. They can be found in the way they doubt their own worth, in the way they feel they are responsible for their husband’s choices.

Other forms of abuse, just as serious as physical battering, include:

• Emotional abuse
• Psychological abuse
• Financial abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual Coercion
• Spiritual abuse
• Covert physical abuse

Like many women in the Betrayal Trauma Recovery Community, Susan Powell was not a victim of physical battering, as far as experts can tell. But she suffered deeply from the abusive behaviors of her husband, Josh. To see if you’re a victim of this type of abuse, take our Emotional Abuse Quiz.

Susan Powell’s Story Teaches Us That Victim-Blaming Harms

Questions and statements like:

• If it was so bad, why didn’t she leave?
• It takes two to tango
• Why did you push his buttons?
• Why don’t you work harder on making sure he’s happy?
• He’s not hitting you, are you sure it’s abuse?

Even after Susan Powell’s ten year disappearance, many still blame her subtly by asking, “If it was so bad, then why did she stay?”

As Dave says, the societal focus should be on why so many men are abusing women, not why women are staying in abusive relationships.

Susan Powell’s Story Teaches Us That Anyone Can Be A Victim

Josh Powell was diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Diso