Bianca*, a single mother of four, is navigating life as a midwife, working tirelessly to support her family. Despite the challenges, she finds solace in her current situation, which she believes is far better than living with her ex-partner.
Reflecting on her past relationship, you would have thought everything was ideal at the start. However, what began as a seemingly perfect romance devolved into a distressing experience. Now, Bianca is determined to raise awareness about the perils of ‘love bombing’—a manipulation tactic where affection is showered excessively to gain control over someone.
Bianca’s story echoes the experiences of many others, featured on the podcast There’s No Place Like Home by Nine’s Future Women, where victim-survivors share their narratives. With her voice, Bianca hopes to shed light on the dangers of emotional manipulation and encourage others to recognise and speak out against it.
If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic or family violence, support is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Name changed to protect privacy.