Exploring Emotionally Abusive Relationships
Characteristics of an emotionally abusive relationship include:
âą Using money as a means of control
âą Threatening to walk out or abandon you
âą Creating fear through looks, words, threats and actions
âą Destroying things (and often things you value) â either in a cold and heatless way, or in an angry outburst or fit of rage
âą Using blaming, shaming, minimizing and denial to control you
âą Verbally attacking and demeaning you (includes name calling, shouting at you, criticising and putting you down â especially in public)
âą Attacking and putting you down in private, and acting loving and charming in public
âą Minimising the abuse; acting as if youâre over-reacting and itâs âno big dealâ
âą Deliberately withholding approval, affirmation, affection and as a means of punishment or control The effects of living with emotional abuse include:
âą A fear of being natural and spontaneous
âą A loss of enthusiasm or their old joie de vive
âą Insecurity related to how they coming across to others
âą An inner belief that they are deeply flawed
âą A loss of self-confidence and self esteem
âą Growing self-doubt (so theyâre afraid to make even the smallest decision, or to take on even the simplest of tasks)
âą Never trusting their own judgments (as they believe that they misunderstand or misread everything)
âą Having a constant critic in their head
âą Feeling they should be happier and more upbeat than they are (in order to meet the approval of others)
âą Feeling theyâre too sensitive, and ought to âtoughen upâ
âą Fearing theyâre going crazy, or losing their mind
âą A tendency to live in the future (âEverything will be OK when/after âŠ.â)
âą A desire to break free, escape or run away
âą A distrust and fear of entering into any close relationships again.