Abuse Quotes: Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is one kind of domestic violence

Emotional abuse is more common than you think. In some relationships, family, spousal, or partner there may be a narcissist pulling the strings to control you. But narcissism isn’t the only cause of emotional abuse. Passive aggression is another. Growing up, I was called a girl child and an ugly one. Now I am an adult and even though I know I am more than that, the words are still with me. That is a form of emotional abuse. Really. Anything anyone does to you that makes you feel less than, unworthy, or bad is emotional abuse.

Does someone you know treat you with one of the tactics of intimidation below?

• Verbal abuse: yelling at you, insulting you or swearing at you.
• Rejection: Constantly rejecting your thoughts, ideas and opinions.
• Gaslighting: making you doubt your own feelings and thoughts, and even your sanity, by manipulating the truth. For more information on how gaslighting works, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
• Put-downs: calling you names or telling you that you’re stupid, publicly embarrassing you, blaming you for everything. Public humiliation is also a form of social abuse.
• Causing fear: making you feel afraid, intimidated or threatened.
• Isolation: limiting your freedom of movement, stopping you from contacting other people (such as friends or family). It may also include stopping you from doing the things you normally do – social activities, sports, school or work. Isolating someone overlaps with social abuse.
• Financial abuse: controlling or withholding your money, preventing you from working or studying, stealing from you. Financial abuse is another form of domestic violence.
• Bullying and intimidation: purposely and repeatedly saying or doing things that are intended to hurt you.