Emotional Abuse in Relationships

 

Emotional abuse in relationships involves manipulating, causing shame, disgrace, criticizing, or controlling the victim. Despite its prevalence in romantic and marriage partnerships, mental or emotional abuse can occur in any relationship, including with friends, family, and coworkers.

When there is a history of bullying and hurtful comments that hurt the victim’s sense of self-worth and mental health, the relationship is usually seen as emotionally abusive.

Get help if you or someone you know is being emotionally abused in a relationship, and learn some important information below. 

 

What Is Emotional Abuse?

Not all forms of abuse have outward indicators or cautions. Certain situations, such as emotional abuse, may have an impact on you before you ever know it.

Psychological maltreatment and abuse can manifest in several ways. It can occasionally ambush you and conceal itself in charming phrases. Sometimes, it comes in waves of total stillness.

Many of the clear indicators of emotional abuse and manipulation may be well-known to you. However, it’s easy to overlook the early warning signals that are mild and gradually develop into an ongoing pattern of abusive conduct when you’re in an abusive scenario.

Attempts to terrify, control, or isolate are considered emotional abuse. Although threats of violence against you or your loved ones may be used, actual physical harm and violence are not included here. Emotional abuse in relationships is defined by the words that are used, the tone, and the lack of empathy in an individual’s conduct towards another. Even though emotional abuse may begin gradually, it often does not stop without conscious efforts to learn tools to regulate the brain.

Anyone of any age or gender can be abused. Abusive behavior does not only happen in romantic relationships either. The abuser may be your spouse, love partner, business partner, parent, caregiver, or adult child.

 

Signs of Emotional Harm

Emotional abuse has several indicators. Remember that even if your partner, parent, coworker, or friend only does some of these things, your relationship is considered emotionally harmful.

Remember that emotional abuse is often hidden when considering your relationship. Thus, identifying symptoms may be difficult. Trying to figure out if your relationship is abusive? Consider if you experience empathy and compassion from someone. 

 

• Shaming and Humiliating

Any act or statement that embarrasses you is in the realm of shame. Shaming may make you doubt your actions or beliefs. Embarrassing someone is among the most overt types of emotional abuse. This might manifest as humiliation in public or as actions in private that make you feel less than others. In the middle of a conversation, for example, saying you are not sure when to stop talking could be considered emotional abuse.

 

• Criticizing

Cruel or unhelpful criticism has the potential to be emotionally damaging. “Why would you do that?” may be asked. It could also be negative comments about your appearance. 

 

• Blaming

Flipping the switch or abruptly placing the blame on another person’s actions or feelings is an example of emotionally abusive blaming.

“I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t made me so angry” is an example of blame that absolves the abusive person of any accountability.

 

• Guilting

Guilt is a potent manipulative tool. You could alter your conduct in the future to prevent feeling like you’ve disappointed someone, that you’re not good enough, or that you’ve let them down.

 

• Accusing

Unjust charges can coerce you into actions that would appease others. You could go above and beyond to show someone you are paying attention to them if they are persistently accusing you of adultery, for example. You could also quit going outside for fear that they’ll find you and confront you.

 

• Neglecting

Neglect may occur when your emotional or physical needs aren’t addressed. Deliberately withholding affection or subjecting you to silent treatment are examples of emotional neglect.

 

• Monitoring

Your sense of privacy can be destroyed by monitoring. Monitoring includes checking your social media, reading your communications, and attending events.

 

Impact of Emotional Abuse in Relationships

Studies reveal that the repercussions of mental abuse are equally as dire as those resulting from physical violence. However, instead of noticeable scars and bruising, your wounds are concealed behind any feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing, and self-doubt you may have.

Severe and continuous emotional abuse might cause you to lose your sense of self completely. Gaslighting, verbal abuse, name-calling, accusations, and critiques can gradually weaken your sense of self to the point where you are unable to see yourself in the true light.

Thus, you may agree with the person causing the harm and become disapproving. You may feel like you will never be good enough for others and are stuck in a violent relationship. You could eventually distance yourself from friends and withdraw from social interactions because you think no one likes you.

 

How to Deal with Emotional Abuse

Recognizing the abuse is the first step in resolving an emotionally abusive relationship. It is crucial to first and foremost identify any instances of emotional abuse you may have detected in your relationship.

You may regain control over your life by being truthful about what you are going through. Here are seven additional life-reclaiming techniques that you can start doing right now.

Put yourself first when it comes to your physical and emotional well-being. Give up trying to win over the abusive individual. Attend to your needs. Take a step that will encourage positive thinking and self-affirmation.

If you have spent any length of time in an emotionally abusive relationship, you could think that there is a severe problem with you. However, you are not the issue. Abuse is the act of choosing. Give up blaming yourself for circumstances beyond your control.

 

Leaving Your Abusive Partner

You cannot stay in an abusive relationship indefinitely if your partner does not want to improve or change their bad decisions. You’ll ultimately experience bodily and emotional consequences from it.

You might have to take action to break up with the person, depending on your circumstances. Every circumstance is unique. So, review your ideas and thoughts with a counselor, family member, or trusted friend. While emotional abuse can have detrimental long-term ramifications, it can also signal impending physical abuse or violent acts.

If you feel rage or have an abusive partner, consider asking them to get help or getting yourself help. Start today in the comfort of your own home. 

 

About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexible. Multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically-trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) that has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists help all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

LCAT provides on-site appointments, as well as video chat and text therapy programs.

Learn more about how LCAT can help improve your life at What We Do.