October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month—a reminder that abuse can take many forms, including emotional abuse, which often hides in plain sight.
Earlier this year, one of my best friends from college (let’s call her Jane) visited Los Angeles. I expected her to arrive with her husband and their 7-month-old baby, but when she landed, she texted me saying she was alone. I didn’t think much of it until she broke the news: she was legally separating from her husband (let’s call him Chad, because, well, he’s an a-hole).
Over dinner, Jane opened up about the emotional abuse she endured during her pregnancy and postpartum. As she spoke, I found myself replaying old conversations. She had mentioned fights with Chad before, but always brushed them off—it was her way of coping, minimizing what was happening, and holding on to hope.
She told me about the times he gaslighted her, used their baby to manipulate her, and displayed covert narcissism—something she only understood once she returned to therapy. I talk to her almost every day, and yet I had no idea 🤦🏻♀️.
Signs to Look For: Emotional abuse isn’t always obvious—not to those outside the relationship, and sometimes not even to the person experiencing it. Gaslighting, isolation from friends and family, financial control, verbal put-downs, and using children as leverage are all powerful yet subtle tactics that often go unnoticed.
How to Support Someone Going Through It: If you suspect a loved one is in an emotionally abusive relationship, be there—without judgment or unsolicited advice. Let them know they’re not alone and be ready to listen when they’re ready to talk. Offering resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline can also be helpful, but remember: leaving an abusive relationship is a complex, deeply personal decision.
When Jane shared her story, I felt terrible I hadn’t noticed sooner—but thanked her for trusting me. Now, as she navigates a brutal divorce and custody battle, I make myself available however I can, whenever I can. Sometimes, the best support is simply being there.

Joanna (Co-Founder of TA)