| 4 Signs of Emotional Abuse | | | | partner. The fact is that not every abuser hits, and |
| - Isolation and Humiliation. An emotional abuser wants | | | | not all scars are visible to the eye. But the trauma |
| to make his or her partner feel bad constantly. In | | | | and pain caused be emotional abuse is very real and |
| order to keep the victim down, the abuser looks for | | | | it can take years to move toward help and recovery. |
| ways to keep the victim for getting support. The | | | | Emotional abusers are able to gain control by making |
| abuser usually has a number of reasons why the | | | | others feel like they have no self-worth. Many victims |
| victim shouldn't spend time with family or friends. | | | | feel that they have no other options and that they |
| - The Blame Game. If you ask an abuser, he will | | | | only choice they have is to stay with the abusive |
| never say that anything is his fault. Abusers blame | | | | partner. These circumstance make it difficult for the |
| the victims for "making them do it." They also have a | | | | abused partner to escape the relationship and leave |
| lot of other excuses for why the behave | | | | their partner. |
| unacceptably. From a bad childhood to a bad day, the | | | | Name-calling, shaming, yelling, and instilling fear are all |
| blame always belongs on something or someone else. | | | | ways that abusers can control the actions of their |
| - Intimidation. Abusers use threats to get their | | | | partners. To them control is sought through any |
| partners to do what they want. Emotional abusers | | | | means necessary. |
| don't usually resort to physical violence, but they are | | | | It is unfortunate that society tends to view |
| not above threatening physical violence to get their | | | | emotional abuse as less severe than domestic |
| way. Many will threaten their partners, children, and | | | | violence and physical abuse. However, emotional |
| family. Some even promise to kill themselves if the | | | | abuse is every bit as damaging, emotionally and |
| victim tries to get out of the relationship. In this way | | | | psychologically speaking. In order to break free from |
| they use fear, guilt, and shame to intimidate victims | | | | the cycle of emotional abuse, victims must admit that |
| and make them feel like there is not escape. | | | | emotional abuse is happening, that it is unacceptable, |
| - Domination. Abusers have to feel like they are in | | | | and that it is important to gain a sense of |
| charge all of the time. To achieve this, they treat | | | | empowerment. |
| their victims as possessions. To the abuser the victim | | | | There are several ways for victims to regain their |
| does not have any value aside from their ability to | | | | sense of self-worth and move toward feelings of |
| do what the abuser's bidding. | | | | empowerment and away from feelings of |
| The thing that makes emotional abuse difficult to | | | | helplessness. Some victims buy self defense videos |
| deal with is that it doesn't carry the same weight as | | | | and begin Martial Arts Training at home to build their |
| physical abuse in the eyes of most people. | | | | confidence. Others find a new hobby, join a book |
| Sometimes even the victim's don't realize the extent | | | | club, or do things they feel they were not entitled to |
| of the damage caused by years with an abusive | | | | do when they were being abused. |