In our exploration of coercive control, we have dismantled the prisons built with words, money, and physical force. Now, we turn to two forms of abuse that weaponise the very tools meant to connect and uplift us: our technology and our beliefs. Digital abuse and spiritual abuse represent the sinister adaptation of coercive control into the modern age and its invasion into our most sacred inner spaces.

Learning to distinguish between healthy, cautionary, and unhealthy relationship dynamics is a crucial form of self-care. Think of it as an emotional toolkit. To help you build yours, let’s explore the concept of relationship flags: Red, Amber, and Green.