Physical confinement

What it is

Physically blocking you from leaving a space, communicating, or asking for help. It's deprivation of liberty.

“You can't leave like that in the middle of an argument.”

Yes you can. Anyone can leave any space at any moment. Physically blocking the exit is deprivation of liberty — not conflict resolution.

“I did it so we could calm down.”

Locking someone in doesn't calm anyone. It activates entrapment — one of the most intense threat responses the body can produce.

If this is happening now, get help.

These behaviors put your life at risk. You don't have to face this alone.

Something feels off but you can't name it?

An exercise to listen to what the body already knows.