The Couples Expert

Welcome to The Couples Expert Podcast with your host Stuart Fensterheim. This is episode number 170 of our show. This week, Stuart is joined by guest Mickie Zada, who runs the Surviving Abuse Network. Mickie left her abusive marriage 16 years ago after over 30 years of abuse. She helps women get out of abusive situations and begin to heal.   What you’ll learn from today’s podcast:   We can live in denial of  abuse for a very long time 1:41   There’s so much trauma that women in abuse hold onto 3:48   It can all look perfect from the outside. It’s a facade 7:54   Emotional abuse is dramatically worse than physical abuse 9:20   Be open with your kids about the abusive behavior to educate them what is right and wrong 11:19   Shame and guilt are a part of the cycle and why victims don’t talk about abuse in their lives 13:38   Fear of walking away with nothing can keep women from fighting back 16:40   Financial abuse - When the abuser is controlling access to the money is a big red flag 17:47   Men