| When a person leaves an emotionally abusive | | | | have contact due to children, etc, minimize it |
| relationship, it requires a lot of effort and courage to | | | | whenever possible. Stick to the business at hand and |
| follow through with the split. Even though the intellect | | | | end the conversation if it goes off topic. |
| may dictate that this is the right choice, the heart | | | | 2. Begin to get back in touch with your "red flag" |
| may be ambivalent and insecure about whether it is | | | | system. This instinctual response is a protection |
| possible to go on alone. Unfortunately, the result of | | | | against all manner of harm - including emotional. It |
| emotional abuse is frequently a sense of inferiority, | | | | may be a system you neglected in order to stay in |
| incompetence, or even a lack of mental stability. The | | | | the emotionally abusive relationship. It is time to begin |
| abuser's agenda to convince the victim of this reality | | | | to listen to the little voice and the physical reaction |
| can become a kind of self fulfilling prophecy. Thus, | | | | you have when you interact with others. Do you feel |
| the victim may break away but hold on to the | | | | peaceful and energized around someone? Or are you |
| residual belief that he or she is not able to function | | | | confused, shamed or anxious? This can be an |
| and go on in a healthy way without the abuser. Here | | | | important message about whether a relationship is |
| are 3 strategies to help you steer clear of the abuser | | | | good for you. |
| and avoid returning to an unhealthy relationship: | | | | 3. Spend time around those who are supportive and |
| 1. Sever contact with your abuser in every way if | | | | give you a positive feeling. Not only will it help you fill |
| possible. Don't take calls, emails, or visits. It is | | | | your social datebook and keep you from too much |
| important to give yourself an opportunity to heal | | | | isolation, it will also help to reprogram you to believe |
| from the continuous wounding from your abuser, and | | | | in a better self image and become less tolerant of |
| that is not possible if you continue to put yourself in | | | | anyone who looks down or negatively upon you. |
| contact with your emotional abuser. If you must | | | | |