Emotional abuse can hurt you to the core. People may not be able to see the scars, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not there. When you’re emotionally abused, you feel trapped. Your abuser makes you feel like you’re worthless. They convince you that you’re not worthy of being loved or that your opinions don’t matter.
It’s crucial to understand that they tell lies to keep you trapped in an abusive relationship. Of course, you are worthy of being loved. But, when you’re in an abusive relationship, you believe what your abuser is telling you because they seem to have a lot of power over you. That power is an illusion, and you can break free of the abuse. Here’s how emotional abuse can hurt people and what you can do to cope.
Emotional abuse destroys a person’s self-esteem
People who are emotionally abused suffer because they’re being told that they have no value. The abusive person is convincing the abused that they only have worth until the abused believes them. The abuser works hard to condition their victim to beg for their approval. When you are emotionally abused, you are working hard to gain the attention or praise of the abuser. It’s a vicious cycle of abuse.
When you do not get the approval of the abuser, you feel a sense of failure. The abuser has convinced you that if they are not satisfied, as a result, you’re worthless. That can take a huge toll on someone’s self-esteem. Again, it’s crucial to remember that the abuser has no right to dictate your value. You matter, and you don’t need that person’s permission to exist. It could also be extremely difficult to escape this kind of dynamic because the person who is being abused is relying on the abuser for their sense of self-worth.
Emotional abuse includes isolation from friends and family
A person who is being emotionally abused in a relationship often feels isolated from their friends and family. They’re likely afraid to disclose that the abuse is happening. Perhaps they’re worried that their family or friends won’t believe them about the abuse. Maybe they are scared that they’ll come across as weak or unable to stand up for themselves. These are all valid concerns that prevent people from escaping abusive relationships. The abuser isolates the victim from their loved ones so that they can’t reach out for help or get out of the relationship. They convince the person that their friends and family will not believe them if they tell them about the abuse. It’s a type of psychological manipulation that keeps victims under the thumb of their abusers and makes it hard to break free.
Breaking the cycle of emotional abuse
Breaking the cycle of abuse requires that the person who is being abused reach out for help, but that’s not always easy. However, it’s not impossible. If you’re in an abusive relationship, you can reach out and get help. You need to believe that there is hope outside of your relationship because there is. There are people who will treat you better than your abuser.
There is a life where you will feel good about yourself. It’s just difficult to see that when you are stuck in a cycle of abuse. There are hotlines that you can reach out to you such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, where there are people trained to help those in abusive relationships. They may even be survivors themselves. They want to help you understand how to get out of an abusive relationship and keep you safe. There is a way out of an abusive relationship. You can use resources, and you can also seek the help of a licensed therapist.
Online therapy can help you heal from abuse
Online therapy is an excellent place to discuss any issues you’ve had with emotional abuse. It could be painful to talk about these problems. You may worry about opening up the floodgates, and you’ll feel out of control. A therapist understands how delicate your feelings are and will take good care of them. If you’re in an abusive relationship, you could be fearful of disclosing that to an online therapist.
Remember that online therapy is safe, confidential, and secure. Anything you say to your therapist stays in the session. The online counselors at BetterHelp want to support you in healing from an abusive relationship and lead you towards healthy connections. You don’t have to go through this alone. You can talk to a mental health professional about experiencing emotional abuse and get the support that you need. You deserve to have a happy life with people that treat you well. The first step is finding a therapist who wants to hear your story and help you heal.
Author Bio: Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
