Breaking the Silence: Why We’re Talking About Emotional Abuse
💜 Breaking the Silence: Why We’re Talking About Emotional Abuse in July
👁️🗨️ Emotional Abuse Hides in Plain Sight. This Month, We're Calling It Out.
July may not be officially marked as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but in 2025, it’s become a powerful moment for survivors—especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—to speak up, be seen, and begin to heal.
With BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month shining a light on underserved communities and viral TikTok trends exposing real emotional abuse stories, this July is turning into a watershed moment for survivor voices—and I'm here for it.
🔥 Why This Month Matters
1. Social Media is Exposing the Hidden Truths
A new TikTok trend dubbed “Man of the Year” has exploded. At first glance, it might look like just another joke—but the captions are anything but.
Women are using these videos to quietly expose manipulation, gaslighting, emotional blackmail, and the ways they were coerced, tracked, and controlled behind closed doors.
📱 “He changed my outfit before we left the house.”
📱 “He made me text him photos of what aisle I was in at the grocery store.”
It’s not performative. It’s survival being disguised as storytelling—and it's powerful.
2. BIPOC Communities Are Still Being Silenced
July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, and emotional abuse hits these communities in uniquely painful ways.
Many women of color are taught to "keep the family together at all costs" or are met with disbelief when they finally speak up. Add cultural taboos, fear of police intervention, or language barriers, and you’ve got layers of silence wrapped around a survivor’s truth.
This month is about breaking that silence. And that means recognizing how culture, race, and access to mental health care intersect with abuse.
3. High-Profile Cases Are Making Noise—for All the Right Reasons
Recently, singer and actress FKA Twigs reached a settlement in her $10 million lawsuit against actor Shia LaBeouf, stemming from emotional and physical abuse during their relationship.
Her bravery in naming coercive control, trauma bonding, and psychological torment has helped push the conversation forward. She didn’t wait for October. She made July the time to say: Enough.
Her story proves what many of us have lived:
Emotional abuse is real, and it doesn't need bruises to be dangerous.
💬 Why I’m Speaking Up This Month
I wrote Behind the Smile because I know how easy it is to overlook the signs—especially when the world thinks your relationship looks “perfect.”
I smiled through manipulation.
I covered up emotional sabotage.
I excused control disguised as love.
But not anymore.
This July, I’m urging you to do 2 things:
Believe survivors—even when their stories sound “too emotional” or “too subtle.”
Speak up—even if your voice shakes.
🎯 Take Action Today
📘 Read Behind the Smile and share it with someone who needs it
🎤 Book me to speak at your next women's summit, HR training, or leadership event
🛠️ Download the Empowered Exit Plan if you’re planning a safe departure
💬 Join the conversation on Instagram @MsTiffinyNewton
💜 You're Not Overreacting. You're Overcoming.
Whether it’s July, October, or a random Tuesday in March—you deserve safety, peace, and the power to decide what love looks like for you.
Keep talking. Keep healing.
We’re just getting started.
