This episode is a conversation that takes us deep into the invisible yet deeply damaging forms of emotional abuse that many experience without realizing it. Smitha talks to Anamika, the founder of Let’s Heal who unpacks how emotional abuse can take many forms, from gaslighting and guilt-tripping to control disguised as care, and why so many people fail to recognize it when they’re living through it.
Drawing from her own lived experience and her professional work as a trauma-informed therapist, Anamika explains how emotional abuse affects the mind and body alike, shaping the nervous system and distorting self-worth. They dig into the cultural and familial conditioning that often normalises such behaviour, keeping people trapped in cycles of guilt, fear, and self-blame.
But this episode is as much about healing as it is about recognition. It's a reminder that healing begins the moment we start believing our own truth.
About The Therapy Room
The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.
We talk about
- Understanding the many faces of emotional abuse
- Why recognizing abuse can be so difficult
- The long-term impact of emotional abuse
- How social and cultural conditioning can normalise unhealthy relationship patterns
- Practical steps towards recovery
Anamika's bio
Anamika is a trauma-informed therapist specializing in supporting individuals moving through complex trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, and relationship issues. She is also the founder of 'Let’s Heal', a space dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves after emotional pain.
With years of experience in guiding individuals through recovery from emotional abuse, she combines her professional expertise with deep empathy and lived understanding. Her approach focuses on creating safety, self-awareness, and compassion as the foundations for healing.
Connect with Anamika
Credits
- Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
- Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.
Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling.
