The Unmasked Journal

Where we name what hurts and reclaim our own knowing.

For the woman who has spent her life questioning herself while understanding everyone else.

For the woman asking, "Is this my trauma response, or am I being hurt?"

For the mother who holds everything together while quietly falling apart.

For the neurodivergent woman who has spent so much of her life masking that she's forgotten what it feels like to simply exist as herself.

Here, we have the conversations that are too often left unspoken.

About emotional abuse and neglect. Relationship anxiety. The shadow side of empathy. Nervous-system overwhelm. Boundaries, self-trust, and the complicated journey of finding yourself beyond survival.

Through lived experience, thoughtful education, and honest reflection, we'll explore the patterns that shape our lives without shame, judgment, or someone else deciding our truth for us.

Because sometimes healing begins when someone finally gives you language for what you've been experiencing.

Welcome to The Unmasked Journal.

With love, Jess — The Mystic Midwife

Emotional Abuse & Relationship Healing Jessica Choate, RN Emotional Abuse & Relationship Healing Jessica Choate, RN

Just Because They Never Laid a Hand on You Doesn't Mean You Weren't Abused

Just because they never hit you doesn't mean you weren't being abused. Domestic violence isn't always physical. Sometimes it's the gaslighting, intimidation, financial control, guilt, and psychological manipulation that slowly destroy your sense of self. I'm healing out loud because the silence almost cost me my life. This is a raw, educational look at the invisible wounds of emotional abuse, why they're so difficult to recognize, and why speaking about them matters.

Read More
Emotional Abuse & Relationship Healing Jessica Choate, RN Emotional Abuse & Relationship Healing Jessica Choate, RN

Before You Ask Why She Stayed, Put Yourself in Her Shoes

Before you ask why she stayed, consider what it feels like to no longer trust your own reality. When emotional abuse leaves you exhausted, afraid, and questioning your judgment, even the smallest decisions can feel impossible. I've been her. This is for every woman who stayed, every woman who found the courage to leave, and everyone who needs to understand why compassion matters more than judgment.

Read More