Have you ever felt like your choices were shrinking… but couldn’t quite explain how or why? Like someone was holding the puppet strings of your life—without ever raising their voice or their hand? That’s coercive control.
And chances are, if you’ve survived narcissistic abuse, you know it all too well—even if you didn’t have a name for it.
Over the past few months, I’ve been sharing a series of articles that dig into this quieter, more insidious form of abuse. These pieces are personal, honest, and designed to help you recognize the patterns that once seemed invisible.
If you missed any of the series so far (or want to revisit with fresh eyes), here are the first three:
Is Narcissistic Coercive Control a Mystery to You?
An approachable introduction to a hard topic—exploring what coercive control really is, and why so many survivors don’t realize it’s happening.
Guilt: The Sharp Sword of Coercive Control (CC#2)
A deep dive into how guilt is used like a blade—subtle, painful, and paralyzing—keeping victims stuck in cycles of silence and self-blame.
How Abusers Trap You In Isolation: Coercive Control #3
A look at how abusers shrink your world by cutting off support, one thread at a time—until you’re surrounded, but completely alone.
But this is just the beginning.
Next Up In The Series:
- Micromanagement: When every task, choice, and breath feels watched, judged, and controlled.
- Spiritual Control: When scripture and faith are twisted into tools of silence and submission.
- Sexual Control: When your body stops feeling like your own—even within marriage.
Each of these topics will be explored with the same honesty, empathy, and truth-telling you’ve come to expect from the Lilly Strong community.
Because we don’t just name abuse here:
We reclaim ourselves from it.
We find our power.
We break the cycle.
Piece by piece — Truth by truth — Step by step.
Which topic speaks loudest to your heart right now? Drop a comment or message me. I’d love to hear your story and walk this road with you.
Don’t miss this week’s episode of the My Ruby Slippers podcast:
What happens when the person you’re grieving is also part of your trauma? In this episode of My Ruby Slippers, Lilly explores the tangled emotions of mourning someone who wasn’t safe — and the grief that doesn’t fit inside a sympathy card. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about missing someone you had to walk away from, this episode will speak to your heart.
