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There is no particular definition of emotional abuse but the term refers to any kind of abuse that is emotional in nature instead of physical. Like all other forms of abuse, emotional abuse is targeted at gaining control and power over the victim. Emotional abuse inflicts psychological damage to the affected persons. Abuse is primarily verbal in nature. The common victims of this form of abuse are children and women. It is a very serious issue facing the entire world. Emotional abuse is quite common in developed as well as developing countries. Most commonly associated with child abuse and abusive relationships, emotional abuse often precedes or accompanies physical abuse.
There are serious effects of emotional abuse on the victims. They lose self-motivation, self-confidence and self-worth. The effects are definitely detrimental and long-lasting.
There are different types of emotional abuse such as:-
Verbal assaults
Rejecting
Degrading
Terrorizing
Creating constant chaos
Ignoring
Aggression
Isolating
Abusive expectations
Dominating
Unpredictable behaviour
Exploiting
Denying emotional responsiveness
Emotional blackmail etc
Some of the common indicators of emotional abuse are:-
Low self-esteem
Feelings of shame
Telling lies
Fearfulness
Emotional instability
Inability to trust
Underachievement
Emotional outbursts
Feeling of depression
Withdrawal from social interaction
Self-blaming
Extreme dependence on others
Isolation from friends and family
Guilty feeling
Pessimistic behaviour
Substance or drug abuse
Inappropriate behaviour for age and development
Growing up in an abusive environment can be terrifying. There is no doubt about serious damage inflicted upon victims psychological and social development. According to some psychiatrists, emotional abuse is more severely debilitating than the physical abuse in the relationship. Repeated verbal abuse can diminish anyones confidence and self-worth. Such sufferers find it hard to succeed in life. They have difficulty in establishing relationships. The affected persons often feel helpless and isolated.
It has been reported that women who are emotionally abused are more likely to consume alcohol than women who have not experienced abuse. Though, there is a growing debate about effects and solutions of emotional abuse, but this is a relatively new discovery and very little research in this field has been conducted. But the gravity and universality of the raging issue demands more attention from one and all.
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