What is emotional abuse?
Emotional abuse, also known as psychological abuse, can take many forms. It can include:
- Bullying and threats
- Isolating you from a group
- Insulting you
- Ignoring you
- Stalking you
Emotional abuse can affect our mental health.
Recognising emotional abuse
It can be difficult to recognise emotional abuse. We often experience this from people we love.
It is easier to recognise emotional abuse when:
- Someone yells at you, gets furious and escalates the situation for no reason.
- There is a pattern of behaviour.
The consequences of emotional abuse can be very serious. The effects of emotional abuse can appear many years after it has been experienced. The most common consequences of emotional abuse can include:
- Withdrawal
- Low self-esteem
- Emotional ability
- Sleep disorders
- Feeling of loneliness
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
How do you protect against emotional abuse?
The first step in protecting yourself against emotional abuse is to verbalise/ sign about the behaviour that you disagree with.
Confronting the issue can have positive effects, as the person who uses emotional abuse is sometimes unaware that they are doing so.
We do not have to take responsibility for resolving this situation. Sometimes the best solution is to end a toxic relationship – for example, leaving your partner or quitting your job.
It may be worth contacting a professional or therapist who can help you find the best solution for you.
Seeing a therapist is advisable as the effects of emotional abuse may be long-term and appear long after the real threat ends.
Recognising gaslighting
Gaslighting is a form of hidden emotional abuse. This is where the abuser tries to convince you that you said something you don’t remember. You think back to this situation and you know that it is definitely not true. However, the abuser tells you this with such confidence that you start to believe them. This is gaslighting – hidden emotional abuse.