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Insights and Resources for Your Mental Health Journey
Welcome to my blog, where I share valuable insights, tips, and resources to support your mental health and well-being. From managing stress and anxiety to building stronger relationships, my articles are designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to live a fulfilling, balanced life.
Explore my latest posts and take a step toward positive change today.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for general educational and informational purposes only. The information on this blog is not meant or implied to be a substitute for professional mental health treatment or any other professional advice.
Authentic Living Therapy
Serving California from San Jose
The Psychology of Stalking
Stalking is best understood not as a single act, but as a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention, contact, or surveillance that invades another person’s life. Unlike romantic persistence or healthy pursuit, stalking is rooted in control, obsession, and intrusion, not in genuine love or care. It strips away a person’s sense of safety by turning ordinary spaces like home, work, school, or even the online world into places where they feel watched, followed, or targeted.
Stacey Alvarez
Sep 1834 min read
Inside the Abuser’s Mind: How They Rationalize Abusive Behavior
Understanding why abusers justify and make sense of their harmful behavior is essential; not to excuse, minimize, or rationalize abuse, but to illuminate the complex ways that perpetrators maintain their actions despite knowing the harm they cause. Abuse is often stereotyped as eruptions of blind rage or complete denial, but in reality, many abusers are fully aware of their behaviors and the pain they inflict. They engage in sophisticated psychological and emotional maneuvers
Stacey Alvarez
Sep 1524 min read
Moral Entitlement: Childhood or Adult Trauma and the Search for Safety
When we go through trauma, it often leaves behind not only emotional wounds but also deeply ingrained beliefs about ourselves, others, and what we deserve from the world. One of the most misunderstood of these beliefs is moral entitlement: the sense that, because we have suffered, we are owed something, exempt from responsibility, or immune from the rules that apply to others.
Stacey Alvarez
Aug 2522 min read
Between Hurt and Harm: Navigating Moral Entitlement After Trauma
Moral entitlement often weaves itself quietly into the healing journeys of abuse survivors, shaping how they relate to themselves and others in profound but frequently misunderstood ways. Far from being a mark of selfishness, arrogance, or moral failing, this entitlement is best understood as a nuanced survival strategy, one forged in response to deep wounds, betrayal, and unmet needs.
Stacey Alvarez
Aug 1824 min read
Yes, You’ve Probably Acted in Abusive Ways — But That Doesn’t Make You an Abuser
Abuse, in our collective imagination, is something done by “bad people”—monsters, narcissists, sociopaths, villains. We distance ourselves from that label because we don’t want to be seen that way…and because, deep down, many of us fear what it would mean if we could hurt others. But the truth is more complex, and more human.
Stacey Alvarez
Aug 429 min read
Abuse by Proxy: When Others Become the Abuser’s Messengers
Sometimes, the most painful attacks don’t come directly from the abuser, but from people you trusted. It might be a family member who suddenly turns cold, a friend who pressures you to forgive, or a therapist, mediator, or school staff member who sides with someone you know is harming you. These moments can leave you not only hurt but disoriented. How did they not see it? Why are they defending the person who’s hurting me?
Stacey Alvarez
Jul 2131 min read
Caught in the Cycle: Emotional Reactivity Keeps You Bound to the Abuser
Long after the relationship ends, or even while it continues, many survivors find themselves swept up in powerful and strong emotional reactions: rage that won’t subside, fear that surfaces unexpectedly, or a looping urgency to explain, prove, or defend. These emotional states aren’t random. They’re the echo of violation, of boundaries crossed and trust broken. And they deserve compassion, not shame.
Stacey Alvarez
Jun 1720 min read
Through Their Eyes: How Witnessing Abuse Alters Children's Lives
Witnessing emotional or physical abuse can leave deep and lasting scars on children, influencing their development and well-being in profound ways.
Stacey Alvarez
Apr 2115 min read
Why We Can All Be Gabby Petito: Why No One Is Immune to Abuse
Gabby's story forced us to confront an uncomfortable truth: abuse doesn’t always look the way we expect, and no one is immune to abuse.
Stacey Alvarez
Mar 222 min read
Behind the Van Life: Breaking Down Brian Laundrie’s Abuse of Gabby Petito
Brian’s behavior repeatedly showed hallmarks of control, manipulation, and emotional abuse—red flags that experts immediately recognized.
Stacey Alvarez
Mar 223 min read
Unseen Wounds: Understanding and Addressing Sibling Abuse
Sibling abuse is often overlooked because it can be mistaken for typical sibling rivalry, leading to dismissing harmful behaviors.
Stacey Alvarez
Jan 2617 min read
Understanding the Origins of Sibling Abuse
The origins of sibling abuse can often be traced back to a combination of individual, familial, and environmental factors.
Stacey Alvarez
Jan 1918 min read
Differentiating Sibling Rivalry from Sibling Abuse
While sibling rivalry can be resolved through constructive conflict resolution strategies, sibling abuse demands more serious intervention.
Stacey Alvarez
Jan 1216 min read
Beyond 'Just Leave': Effective Support Strategies for Abuse Victims
Leaving an abusive relationship is not as simple as walking out the door with victims facing a range of barriers.
Stacey Alvarez
Dec 15, 202411 min read
How the Holidays Can Fuel Abuse and Ways to Help
For abuse victims, the holidays can feel anything but festive, with countless individuals navigating increased fear, isolation, and harm.
Stacey Alvarez
Dec 8, 202424 min read
Defiance & Reaction: Shared Origins of ODD and Reactive Abuse
ODD and reactive abuse, while distinct in their nature, share notable similarities that can often blur the lines between them.
Stacey Alvarez
Nov 10, 202414 min read
When Love Becomes a Cage: The Emotional Trap of Abuse
Victims of abuse frequently maintain a deep, genuine love for their abusers, a love that complicates their ability to recognize the abuse...
Stacey Alvarez
Sep 8, 202413 min read
Why Victims Stay: Silence and The Power of Trauma Bonds
One of the most powerful forces keeping victims in these relationships is the formation of trauma bonds.
Stacey Alvarez
Sep 1, 202416 min read
From Power to Pain: Understanding Abuse Dynamics
Abuse is a deeply unsettling issue that manifests in various forms, from physical violence to emotional manipulation, and its prevalence...
Stacey Alvarez
Aug 25, 202416 min read
Decoding Abuse Dynamics: Primary Abuse vs. Reactive Abuse
Primary and reactive abuse are two concepts that are crucial to understand when examining the dynamics of abusive relationships.
Stacey Alvarez
Aug 17, 202414 min read
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