abuse recovery

The Hidden Toll of Toxic Leadership on Military Minds and Families: A Neuroscientific and Psychological Perspective | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

The Hidden Toll of Toxic Leadership on Military Minds and Families: A Neuroscientific and Psychological Perspective | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Objective. This paper examines the neurobiological and psychological consequences of toxic leadership in the U.S. military for service members, spouses, and children.

Method. Drawing upon neuroscience, psychology, and epidemiological data—including Department of Defense suicide reports and Family Advocacy Program statistics—this review synthesizes evidence of chronic stress, moral injury, family dysfunction, and intergenerational trauma caused by destructive command climates.

Results. Toxic leadership disrupts hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulation, heightens amygdala threat reactivity, reduces prefrontal control, and damages hippocampal integrity. Service members experience depression, anxiety, suicidality, and physical illness. Spouses suffer secondary traumatic stress, somatic illness, and suicide risk. Children endure disrupted attachment, altered neural development, and epigenetic vulnerability. Epidemiological data demonstrate the scope: 523 service-member suicides in 2023, 146 family-member suicides in 2022, 8,298 documented domestic abuse cases in 2023, and more than 500 intimate partner violence–related homicides and suicides between 2012 and 2022.

Conclusion. Toxic leadership is a systemic health hazard, comparable in severity to combat trauma. Addressing it requires leadership accountability, trauma-informed family support, and recognition of its intergenerational consequences.

Keywords: toxic leadership, moral injury, HPA axis, military families, neuroscience, intergenerational trauma

The Effects of Women Enablers and the Perpetuation of Cluster B Personality Disorder Abuse | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

The Effects of Women Enablers and the Perpetuation of Cluster B Personality Disorder Abuse | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and psychopathology, we explore how the dysregulated brain circuits of Cluster B individuals (including hyperactivation of the amygdala, hypoactivity in the prefrontal cortex, and disruptions in the mirror neuron system) interact with the psychological vulnerabilities of enablers. Neurobiological stress responses in victims, including chronic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and maladaptive fear conditioning, are analyzed as mechanisms by which enablers inadvertently reinforce maladaptive behaviors.

We also consider the dynamics of institutional betrayal, particularly in law enforcement and organizational settings, where women in enabling roles may normalize, minimize, or dismiss abuse. This interdisciplinary synthesis emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in both clinical and societal responses to Cluster B-related abuse, recognizing enablers as critical actors in maintaining cycles of harm.

Reiki Energy Healing for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse: A Complementary Approach to Trauma Recovery | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Reiki Energy Healing for Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse: A Complementary Approach to Trauma Recovery | Melanie Boling, Boling Expeditionary Research

Survivors of narcissistic abuse often suffer from emotional trauma, chronic stress, and disrupted self-identity. Reiki, a hands-on energy healing practice, is sometimes utilized as a complementary therapeutic tool. This paper examines clinical and systematic evidence regarding Reiki’s effects on mental health, anxiety, and quality of life, discussing its theoretical basis, practical applications, benefits, limitations, and considerations for integrating it into trauma-informed recovery.

“Anything of value is worth the effort””
— Melanie Boling