Betrayal Trauma Recovery - BTR.ORG

Do you feel a pit in your stomach when your phone dings a text message alert?
When you see his name in your email inbox, do your hands shake?
Many victims experience trauma when the abuser initiates contact - whether in person or over text, phone, and/or email.
Anne is on the podcast with Jim and Bob. Learn the basics of strategic communication and join us for our Strategy Workshop to learn more. 
The Abuser Uses Communication to Harm You

"I was texting with him, but it just got so out of control and every time he would text, my heart rate would go up. I would just go into like full trauma mode."
Anne Blythe, Founder of BTR.ORG

Abusers use communication - whether in person or through technology - to cause you distress.
Victims, including Anne, report experiencing physical trauma responses from messages that they've received from their abusers, including:

* Nausea and vomiting
* Shaking/tremors
* Clenched jaws
* Headaches
* Panic attacks
* Trouble sleeping
* Generalized nerve pain
* Pelvic pain

The psychological and emotional affect of abusive communication (even when it looks "nice") is serious - but it's important to note that the abuser may also be affecting your physical well-being.
What Are The "Types" of Abusive Messages?
In the BTR.ORG Strategy Workshop, Jane details the types of abusive messages that abusers send to victims - in Anne's interview with Jim and Bob, Bob explains that his ex-son-in-law sent messages that contained:

"...legal language and intimidating language... religious language..."
Bob, Anne's Father

Some abusers attempt to silence victims by using complicated, nonsense verbiage that may appear intimidating - and this can launch victims into trauma.
Our Strategy Workshop can help you debunk the fear surrounding the abuser's messages and help you see reality. 
No One Else Sees The Abuse? We Still Believe You. 

"He sounded so nice and he uses legalese and he never swore or wrote in all caps or anything. So on the face of it, it looked okay. It didn't seem abusive."
Anne Blythe, Founder of BTR.ORG

Many women in our community have expressed trauma due to the abuser appearing to be "such a nice guy" to others, including family, friends, clergy, and others.
This can continue through communication - the victim may receive a message absolutely dripping with abuse, but if another person reads it, they may interpret it to be completely healthy. Perhaps they accuse the victim of being dramatic or paranoid.
At BTR.ORG, we know that YOU know. We trust you. You don't have to prove anything to us. We are already on your side. Join our BTR.ORG Group Sessions today and enroll in our Strategy Workshop. We love you. 
Full Transcript:
Anne (00:00):Welcome to BTR.ORG. This is Anne. If you're new to the BTR podcast, you may wanna consider starting with the oldest episode first and then making your way forward chronologically. If you do that, you'll take the journey with me as I learn more and more. You'll hear a change in my voice as I grow in confidence and skills. It'll be like a friend holding your hand as you make your own way to peace. 
Jim is back today with my dad, so if you didn't listen to last week's episode, listen to that first and then join us here today. We're just continuing the conversation. As I listened to this afterwards,