--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a survivor of psychological abuse…" description: "\"“After a survivor of psychological abuse has identified their Despair (Stage One), Educated themselves on the specifics of psychological abuse (Stage T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg" --- # After a survivor of psychological abuse has identified… ![“After a survivor of psychological abuse has identified their Despair (Stage One), Educated themselves on the specifics of psychological abuse (Stage Two), and had an Awakening that recovery is possible (Stage Three), the next stage is implementing Boundaries.” quote by Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg) > ““After a survivor of psychological abuse has identified their Despair (Stage One), Educated themselves on the specifics of psychological abuse (Stage Two), and had an Awakening that recovery is possible (Stage Three), the next stage is implementing Boundaries.”” [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recovery progresses through stages: recognizing despair, learning about abuse, awakening hope, and finally setting healthy boundaries. **In simple terms:** Recovery involves learning, hope, and boundary setting. Key Takeaway Establish clear personal limits. Themes recovery psychology boundaries self‑care Mood hopeful empowering Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - personal journaling - relationship counseling Key Concepts trauma healing personal growth empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries will you set to protect yourself? - How can you maintain them consistently? A Different Perspective Boundaries can be hard to enforce with manipulative abusers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Psychological Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological-abuse-2/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“In a nutshell, the Despair stage is not pretty. It is the stage where the survivor realizes careers have been lost because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/in-a-nutshell-the-despair-stage-is-not-pretty-it-is-the-stage-where/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Denial is a powerful human component that cannot be ignored in the context of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/denial-is-a-powerful-human-component-that-cannot-be-ignored-in-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Unraveling the lies and replacing them with truth is at the heart of the recovery journey for survivors of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/unraveling-the-lies-and-replacing-them-with-truth-is-at-the-heart-of/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [I was full of energy, and I had a lot of bottled up rage that would come out in my stage performances. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-bag/i-was-full-of-energy-and-i-had-a-lot-of-bottled-up-rage-that-would/) [Alice Bag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-bag/) > [“Sometimes psychological abuse can become so life altering, survivors sink into serious depths of depression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/sometimes-psychological-abuse-can-become-so-life-altering-survivors/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Becoming fully aware of the dynamics of psychological abuse is not an easy truth to absorb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/becoming-fully-aware-of-the-dynamics-of-psychological-abuse-is-not-an/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Psychological abuse is not a one-and-done type of harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/psychological-abuse-is-not-a-one-and-done-type-of-harm/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Many people wonder how psychological abuse and emotional abuse differ. Are they perhaps the same thing? For me, they are two distinctly different forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/many-people-wonder-how-psychological-abuse-and-emotional-abuse-differ/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“The subtle nature of psychological abuse leaves survivors doubting themselves, but confidence is found in the healing process.   In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/the-subtle-nature-of-psychological-abuse-leaves-survivors-doubting/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Denial is a powerful human component that cannot be ignored in the context of psychological abuse. Ironic, right? Denial is the exact action of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/denial-is-a-powerful-human-component-that-cannot-be-ignored-in-the-2/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“When God becomes a flying monkey to a poisonous religious leader, a vicious mingling of psychological abuse and spiritual abuse congeal.   The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/when-god-becomes-a-flying-monkey-to-a-poisonous-religious-leader-a/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Survivors who try to get help to protect themselves and their children are often seen as “hysterical, crazy, and unstable.” This is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/survivors-who-try-to-get-help-to-protect-themselves-and-their/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Some misogynists do not resort to the obvious cruelty of scare tactics and screamed insults to gain control of their partners. Instead of raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/some-misogynists-do-not-resort-to-the-obvious-cruelty-of-scare/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“There is tremendous trauma in the betrayal caused by a perpetual liar as they repeatedly commit psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-burnham-martin/there-is-tremendous-trauma-in-the-betrayal-caused-by-a-perpetual-liar/) [Cathy Burnham Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-burnham-martin/) > [“Marital psychological abuse suffered by a parent can never be understood by disrespectful, ungrateful, growing, biased, brainwashed children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/marital-psychological-abuse-suffered-by-a-parent-can-never-be/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) ## More by Shannon Thomas > [“By the time survivors are compelled to leave their psychologically abusive relationships, they do not see any other viable option but to leave. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/by-the-time-survivors-are-compelled-to-leave-their-psychologically/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“This is because in the legalistic church, God (or pronounced “Gawd” if you’re in the southern regions of the country) is coming to smite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/this-is-because-in-the-legalistic-church-god-or-pronounced-gawd-if/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“A psychological abuser will find a survivor’s emotional soft spots and exploit them for control and entertainment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/a-psychological-abuser-will-find-a-survivor-s-emotional-soft-spots/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Toxic people are great actors. They will utilize whichever props are available to maintain control in the relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/toxic-people-are-great-actors-they-will-utilize-whichever-props-are/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“If we have a high level of emotional capacity, it predisposes us to stay in abusive environments longer. That is not a great thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/if-we-have-a-high-level-of-emotional-capacity-it-predisposes-us-to/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“A Sociopath will run you over, scold you for being in their way, and have a smirk because secretly they get entertainment out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/a-sociopath-will-run-you-over-scold-you-for-being-in-their-way-and/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Toxic people absolutely refuse to have normal human flaws and weaknesses. They do not see themselves as average people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/toxic-people-absolutely-refuse-to-have-normal-human-flaws-and/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Some people wonder if abusers can feel love or affection for their targets. The answer to that depends on your own definition of love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/some-people-wonder-if-abusers-can-feel-love-or-affection-for-their/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Some are quietly deteriorating the person’s self-esteem through the emotional game of abandonment. Being present physically but checked out emotionally is not a marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/some-are-quietly-deteriorating-the-person-s-self-esteem-through-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Denial is a powerful human component that cannot be ignored in the context of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/denial-is-a-powerful-human-component-that-cannot-be-ignored-in-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Tenderness from empaths will be used against them time and time again by psychological abusers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/tenderness-from-empaths-will-be-used-against-them-time-and-time-again/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“When an abuser gaslights, he or she sets up situations to make the target doubt their own memories and assessments of situations. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/when-an-abuser-gaslights-he-or-she-sets-up-situations-to-make-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“I use the term survivor to describe what some might call a victim. I hope you can embrace the word survivor because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/i-use-the-term-survivor-to-describe-what-some-might-call-a-victim-i/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Unraveling the lies and replacing them with truth is at the heart of the recovery journey for survivors of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/unraveling-the-lies-and-replacing-them-with-truth-is-at-the-heart-of/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“It is a source of power and entertainment for a toxic person to destroy an originally healthy and happy person. This point is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/it-is-a-source-of-power-and-entertainment-for-a-toxic-person-to/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) [Explore all 120 Shannon Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After a survivor of psychological abuse has identified their Despair (Stage One), Educated themselves on the specifics of psychological abuse (Stage Two), and had an Awakening that recovery is possible (Stage Three), the next stage is implementing Boundaries.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shannon Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse-has-identified-their-despair/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse-has-identified-their-despair/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/shannon-thomas-3888_psychology_after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse_1139135.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After a survivor of psychological abuse has identified their Despair (Stage One), Educated themselves on the…” — Shannon Thomas", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shannon Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“After a survivor of psychological abuse...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse-has-identified-their-despair/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/after-a-survivor-of-psychological-abuse-has-identified-their-despair/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```