WSR

Emotional Abuse

Abuse comes in many forms. The most visible form of abuse is physical. Outward scars and bruises are hard to overlook. Many individuals live with wounds and scars that are not so obvious. They don't show up on x-rays or CAT scans, but they are just as painful. These wounds are the result of emotional abuse.

What is Emotional Abuse?

Emotional abuse includes a range of behaviors, from subtle to more direct attacks on an individual's sense of self and self-worth.

The aim of emotional abuse is to feel in control and powerful.

Warning Signs

• Always blaming you for problems
• Criticizing your looks, your actions, your efforts, your intelligence
• Placing responsibility on you for anything that goes wrong
• minimizing your accomplishments
• Name calling
• Extreme possessiveness
• Requiring you to always ask permission
• Expecting you to be perfect and meet every need
• Expecting you to always agree and submit
• Telling you that you are crazy, hysterical, or blowing things out of proportion
• Telling cruel jokes about you
• Unpredictable mood swings

What Can You Do?

• Maintain a support system of family and friends. Let them help you make reality checks and get help as needed.
• Be assertive. Let your partner know you want and deserve to be treated with respect.
• Remember that you don't deserve to be abused
• The more you are emotionally abused, the more you can start to believe you are worthless and crazy. This isn't so. Get help form someone you trust. Emotional abuse often turns into physical or sexual abuse. Intervene as soon as you can by terminating the relationship or getting help.

How Can I Help a Friend?

• Listen without judging
• Tell her the abuse is not her fault
• Make sure she knows she is not alone
• Think about ways you might feel comfortable helping her
• Help her identify resources to help her take care of herself, get her emotional support, and build her self-esteem