Recognize

30 Signs of Emotional Abuse

While physical abuse is easily felt and recognized, emotional abuse is often the end result of psychopathy. It is at the core of each of the Cluster B disorders. It involves a person’s attempt to control, isolate, threaten, frighten or manipulate you. What makes emotional abuse so devastating, is that it’s not just in the words and actions of the abuser, it’s also in the persistence of their behavior. The abuse is often harsh and unrelenting and it is meant to undermine your confidence and self-esteem while making you more dependent on the abuser which gives them more power over you.

Personal insecurity is at the heart of every abuser’s behavior, and they will always place their own emotional needs over yours in every circumstance. Their whole goal is to create a hierarchy that puts them over you and in control of every aspect of your life. Please realize that no matter who is abusing you and regardless of why, you don’t deserve it and it’s certainly not your fault. Abuse is never right and you don’t have to live this way any longer. While it is important to trust your instincts, it’s not always possible once you’re in the middle of an abusive relationship, and the list below will help you identify areas of potential abuse.

· They humiliate, shame or talk down about you in front of others.

· You’re afraid to talk to them about certain things because you’re not sure how they’ll react.

· They dehumanize you, ignore or pay no attention to what you say or do.

· They put you down and make you feel stupid and bad about yourself.

· They demand respect and expect you to defer to them.

· You’re called “too sensitive” when you respond to their abusive comments.

· You put them above everything/everyone else just to avoid a confrontation.

· They blame you for everything that goes wrong, especially their problems and behavior.

· They dispute, mock, and trivialize your feelings, hopes, dreams and accomplishments.

· They constantly point out your mistakes and shortcomings, ignoring their own.

· They insult your appearance, the way you talk, act and think.

· They act jealous and make unreasonable demands of you.

· They keep you from socializing and isolate you from your friends and family.

· They try to control you and every aspect of your life and the relationship.

· They cheat on you, flirt with others or withhold sex and affection in order to control you.

· They constantly monitor, track or spy on you.

· They make constant threats, especially about leaving you.

· They don’t support you and constantly lecture you.

· They give you the “silent treatment” or become emotionally distant.

· You feel hopelessly trapped in the relationship.

· They treat you like an object or piece of property instead of a person with feelings.

· They scowl at you and give you those nasty looks so you know you’re in for it.

· You begin to see yourself as worthless.

· You begin to believe you might deserve to be treated badly by them.

· They are often moody, brooding and pouting.

· They engage in yelling, name-calling and character assassination.

· You make excuses for their behavior regardless of the situation.

· They never apologize, and if they do – they don’t mean it or they partially blame you.

· They try to guilt and manipulate you to get what they want.

· They lie to you, gaslight and triangulate you with other people.