Emotional abuse is a sad reality in many relationships. They are just as bad as physical and sexual abuse but are much more subtle. Unfortunately, victims of emotional abuse can feel thankful that the abuser is not hitting them, while some don’t see anything wrong with the situation. Some have never been in healthy relationships either, so they can’t tell they are being abused. Therefore, knowing the warning signs and full-blown abuse tactics will help safeguard your health and life.

Types of Emotional Abuse in Relationships

Emotional abuse in relationships can happen in any environment that contains two or more people. It can also manifest in several ways, including the following:

Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a common form of emotional abuse in relationships that seeks to deny the reality of the victim. The abuser usually engages in this behavior to control and manipulate their victim and get others to side with them as they perpetuate harm. Common gaslighting tactics include denying the victim’s reality, leaving them unsure of what they witnessed, blame-shifting, and discrediting.

The Silent Treatment

Emotional abuse in relationships can also manifest in neglect and isolation. Abusers often weaponize affection and silence to get their victims to feel guilty. They will then call you clingy or needy when you try to talk to them about it. They also try to cut you off from family and friends by ignoring you whenever you reach out to your loved ones.

Criticism and Humiliation

Destructive criticism and humiliation are other ways emotional abuse can manifest in relationships. An abusive person will call you names publicly or privately and tear down your self-esteem. They can also make fun of you in front of others and claim you’re too sensitive when you try to get them to stop. They will find fault with all you do, try to shame you, and dismiss your achievements.

Controlling Behavior

A clear form of emotional abuse in relationships is trying to control the other person. If your partner always seeks to control you with force, manipulation, blame-shifting, or guilt-tripping, they are likely emotional abusers. Some other signs include polite insults, sarcasm, moodiness, procrastination, and intentionally excluding you.

Your partner may also be emotionally abusive if they constantly compete with you, are jealous, distrustful, unpredictable, and don’t respect your opinions, wishes, and boundaries. Additionally, if they always make you feel insignificant, inferior, and unvalued. In that case, they are condescending, never accept their wrong, and have unrealistic standards of perfection for you; they are showing signs of being an emotional abuser.

How to Protect Your Well-Being from Emotional Abuse in Relationships

Don’t Blame Yourself

The emotional abuser’s goal is to make you doubt and blame yourself so they can continue to manipulate you. You are not responsible for their actions, and you definitely do not deserve to be abused.

Acknowledge That You Can’t Fix Them

You are not a superhuman doctor who can fix all problems. You are only human, and you can only change yourself. You are not responsible for anyone’s mistakes and wrongdoings. You should also acknowledge that your abuser may never change, no matter what you do. It’s not you; it’s them, so don’t hurt yourself trying to be what you’re not.

Get Support

You must surround yourself with a strong support network when you are being emotionally abused in a relationship. Some days will be torturous and difficult; therefore, having people you can share your feelings with will help your mental health. Most emotional abusers usually want to isolate their victims so they have no one to run to. Don’t allow this to happen to you.

Set Boundaries

Many people are sometimes unable to leave abusive relationships even after realizing the abuse for many reasons. If you fall into this category, setting and enforcing boundaries will help protect your well-being until you can leave. Tell them to stop using abusive language or stop their manipulative and controlling behavior. If they refuse, cut them off as soon as you can.

Leave

The best way to deal with emotional abuse in relationships is to leave. Leaving is the only way you can start to heal and preserve your physical and mental health. Being in close proximity with your abuser may be ineffective, especially since they successfully controlled and manipulated you for so long.

Emotional abuse in relationships is dangerous. It can affect your self-esteem and self-worth and tamper with your mental health. Therefore, seek the right resources to break free once you recognize these signs.

#Clique, have you ever been in an emotionally abusive relationship? How did you deal with the situation? Let us know in the comments.