Sticks and Stones
“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.”
In an emotional abusive relationship, words hurt and cut deep into the soul and mind. The abuser likes to hurt their victim in order to have control and feed their sick mind. The hurtful words that are said every day, steal the victim’s identity and changes them into a person they were never meant to be.
So what is emotional abuse? And what are the struggles and signs?
Emotional abuse is confinement, isolation, verbal attacks, humiliation, intimidation or any other treatment that steals your identity, dignity, and self-worth.
Emotional abuse can happen to anyone. There is no age limit. It can happen to the young and old. Emotional abuse has devastating consequences to the victim.
People who suffer emotional abuse have low self-esteem, have anxiety attacks, they may suffer depression, have suicidal thoughts, and become withdrawn from people and society.
A victim may have anxiety being around people. Sometimes it is a sound, smell or even a word that pulls them into a hurtful memory and they can suffer an anxiety attack.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Some of the signs that you are in an emotional abusive relationship are:
Yelling and cussing at you in front of people or your own children
Name calling and insults
Threats and intimidation
Ignoring
Isolating
Humiliation
Emotional abuse is a cycle. One day everything is good. You wake up and feel loved by your partner and the next day you are being insulted over the smallest mistake. You love your partner; you strive every day to please your partner but it is never enough. You convince yourself that everything will be ok especially on good days but before you know it you find yourself sucked in the vicious and endless cycle of emotional abuse.
Where to go to get help?
My advice is to never stay quiet. Speak out! Get help! Fight for yourself and children. Fight for the person you were meant to be. You are worth so much.
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-877-799-SAFE
References:
HealthyPlace.com
Article: Emotional Abuse
Natasha Tracy
May 26, 2016