When we think of abuse, the first thing that comes to mind is physical abuse. However, it does not pertain to that alone. Another form of abuse we refer to is emotional abuse, and it is as severe as physical.
A person may experience emotional abuse from different people in their lifetime. The sources of abuse can come from
In a romantic relationship, people may not experience manipulation at first. However, it may occur when one partner is toxic, and the connection leads to an unhealthy path.
Some signs of mistreatment are:
If you find any of these signs in your relationship, ask your partner to seek help when they are ready.
Emotional abuse can also happen between parents and children. Contrary to some beliefs, a family member can also likely abuse a child more than any stranger.
Some signs of parental abuse may include:
Children who suffer emotional abuse cannot stand for themselves and grow up believing it was their fault. They may not heal from the emotional baggage, thus, affecting their relationships later on.
Abuse in the workplace often goes unnoticed and may occur in several forms, from intimidation, too much workload, or unfair treatment. The abuse can come from a superior or colleague humiliating a subordinate. When an employee is subject to abuse, it may lead to an unfinished task or poor performance due to fear and feeling humiliated. It can also lead to more profound emotional effects on the person's self-esteem.
The initial reaction is to deny the presence of mistreatment and manipulation in the relationship. Aside from denying the tell-tale signs, you may develop other emotions like:
Emotional distress can also manifest in physical side effects and behavioral changes. You may observe changes in your body:
Long-term effects of emotional abuse damage the physical and psychological aspects.
Other health-related issues may exhibit as well:
A person who has suffered emotional abuse, whether as a child or as an adult, may find it hard to trust again. They will likely chase undeserving persons and get involved in toxic relationships.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental disorder that may happen in people who have witnessed or underwent a traumatic event. Not all people who had emotional abuse have PTSD. However, your doctor may come up with a PTSD diagnosis when you experience fear for an extended period or if you are under a high level of stress that interferes with your daily activities.
Other symptoms of PTSD emotional abuse are:
PTSD in children may show signs like:
Victims must know that it is not their fault and should stop blaming themselves for the transgressions.
Some tips for recovering may include:
A Center for Mental Wellness understands what you are going through. You don’t have to suffer alone. Our trained clinicians have the best treatment plan for recovering from emotional abuse and PTSD.
Call us at
(302) 674-1397 to schedule an appointment.
ACFMW | All Rights Reserved.