Is It Me? Carine Van Hee on Toxic Relationships, Gaslighting & Healing After Abuse

Send us Fan Mail“Is it me?” can sound like healthy self-reflection, but in a toxic relationship it can become the trap that keeps you questioning yourself for years.In this episode, Julie Fairhurst sits down with Carine Van Hee, a visual artist living in Norway, survivor of domestic abuse, and author of Is It Me? The Hidden System Behind Toxic Relationships, to put clear language around the confusing reality of emotional abuse, manipulation, coercive control, and gaslighting.Carine shares how the death of her mother exposed a painful family truth and pushed her to research the repeatable patterns behind toxic relationships. Together, we talk about why emotional abuse can be so hard to recognize when it is mostly invisible: the early love bombing that feels like a soulmate connection, the gradual isolation, the blame shifting, the walking on eggshells, and the slow erosion of confidence that happens one small moment at a time.We also explore healing after abuse. Carine explains why leaving is only the first step, how it can take time to “detox” from the abuser’s voice, and what helped her rebuild self-trust through therapy, meditation, movement, and nervous system support.This conversation goes beyond romantic relationships, because toxic patterns can also show up in families, friendships, workplaces, and communities. When we learn the pattern, we are better able to protect ourselves and support the people we love.If this episode gives you words for something you could not explain, please share it with someone who may need it, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review so more women can find the support and language they deserve.Find out more about Carine, her mission, and her book here:https://www.carinevanhee.com/If this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website