Emotional Abuse: What it is and How it Looks Like

When it comes to abuse people have the misconception that it can only be physical. It is as if bruises, scars, or some sort of marking are needed to accept there was some kind of abuse going on in a person’s life. However, physical abuse is not the only kind individuals deal with. It might not be visible or expected, but emotional abuse can be pretty common in relationships of any kind.

Emotional abuse begins when someone you are involved with uses emotions to criticize, embarrass, shame, blame, or manipulate you in an attempt to control you. This kind of abuse is subtle and can take many forms. It is important to remember that even with this type of abuse, being a victim of it is not your fault.

Nevertheless, you are the one with the responsibility to begin the healing process and put your pieces back together. Although invisible, these kinds of situations leave scars and if they are left unhealed, you will be carrying the effects of it in your subconscious. By allowing yourself to cure those wounds, you will work on the suppressed energy that might continue attracting toxic people and circumstances in your life.

Emotional Abusive Relationships

Emotional abuse can happen in any relationship you find yourself being a part of. These relationships become emotionally abusive when there is a consistent pattern of harmful words and bullying behaviors that wear down the other person’s self-esteem and undermine their mental health.

In my years working as a subconscious healing professional, I have narrowed down certain obvious actions emotional abusers take towards their victims. These might go unnoticed, but they are used to make the other person feel worthless, gaining control over them. Abusers will expect the other individual to put everything aside to meet their needs and still be dissatisfied with everything that is done. They tend to invalidate your feelings by defining how you should feel or accusing you of feeling “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or “crazy.”

This kind of person will refuse to acknowledge your opinions and ideas as valid, and utilize this to humiliate you both in public and in private. Since humiliation is not enough for them, they will treat you as inferior and talk to you in a condescending manner. But another way in which they can perpetuate their humiliating behavior is by withholding affection or giving the silent treatment.

Emotional Abuse’s Effect on Victims

When we see someone who is being physically abused, we always tell them “it is not your fault.” But most of the time when someone is being emotionally abused, we miss the signs and are unable to provide this same reassurance. However, if we pay attention to those around us, to those we believe are trapped in a harming situation, we might be able to see what is happening behind the facade.

What are these signs?

• The decline of overall health.
• Low self-confidence.
• Fear of sharing anything with partners, friends, and family.
• Constant feelings of guilt.
• Feelings of isolation.
• A fear of abandonment by people close to them.
• Difficulty forming new relationships.

Healing the Subconscious

These fears are valid and they are a response to the abuse the person is experiencing behind closed doors. As hard as it may seem, it is possible to heal from this trauma once the individual is able to leave the abuser behind. This is achievable by healing the subconscious. That healing process will allow the victim—who has become a survivor—to heal from the hurt and the pain caused by the emotional abuse. At the same time, they will be able to create new and empowering beliefs about their self-worth to begin attracting healthy relationships.