How Psychological Abuse Becomes Invisible with Dr. Sandra Evers I Ep. 143

What happens when domestic violence leaves few visible marks—and the systems you turn to for help believe the wrong person? Dr. Sandra Evers joins Ingrid Dutton on Beyond the Statistics to share her experience of psychological violence, coercive control, sexual coercion, financial exploitation, isolation, threats, and institutional harm. Sandra was a respected professor, published author, and trusted professional. None of that protected her from abuse. She describes how control developed gradually, how she learned to become “nicer” to keep the peace, and how a threat involving “the perfect murder” changed everything. When she eventually ran for help, she says she was sent back. Her story then took another devastating turn. Sandra was labeled bipolar, forcibly admitted to psychiatric care, medicated, and subjected to ECT despite a known brain injury. In this conversation, Ingrid and Sandra discuss: • Psychological violence and invisible domestic abuse • Coercive control and the slow erosion of autonomy • Sexual coercion and financial abuse • Threats, isolation, and credibility attacks • Institutional abuse and systems that fail survivors • Sandra’s “green rabbit” analogy and professional priming • The difference between “coercive control” and “psychological violence” • Trauma-informed responses to domestic violence • Healing after psychological and institutional trauma Sandra’s story challenges the idea that domestic violence is always visible—and raises an important question about what happens when an abuser’s credibility becomes more powerful than a survivor’s reality. Dr. Sandra’s Links:  https://www.beyondthestatisticspodcast.com/guests/dr-sandra-jtm-evers/ https://www.sandrajtmevers.nl/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sandra-jtm-evers-106209347/ This podcast is intended for mature audiences. Some listeners may find the content distressing as episodes may include discussions of violence, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and physical. In many cases, names have been changed to protect those involved. Please note that the statements and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect my own. Support the show If you are in the United States and need immediate support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting START to 88788. If you're outside the United States, crisis resources are available at BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com/GetHelp. Connect with Beyond the Statistics: 🌐 Website: https://www.BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast.com 💜 Join the Beyond the Statistics Community: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondTheStatisticsPodcast 📧 Email: [email protected] 📱 Follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and X: @BeyondStatsPod If today’s conversation meant something to you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode. And if you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the episode, I’d love to have you join us in the Beyond the Statistics Community. Every story shared helps another survivor know they are not alone. Music: Tim Crowe