| p>Emotional abuse is not always easy to identify, | | | | from making plans with your loved ones to avoid a |
| especially when it takes subtle forms. This is in | | | | fight. |
| contrast to physical abuse, which leaves obvious | | | | 3. At the end of the day, when you come home to |
| marks. Emotional abuse is extremely damaging, but | | | | or speak to your partner, it feels as if you must give |
| the victim may not even realize where his or her | | | | an account and justify your activities. Because you |
| struggles with low self esteem, feelings of | | | | are criticized for doing certain things, over time you |
| unworthiness, and fear of incapability come from. In | | | | might find yourself choosing "approved" activities |
| fact, if your partner is attempting to control you, one | | | | rather than setting yourself up for more |
| of the techniques often used is to work on your | | | | confrontation. When it comes to opportunities for |
| own sense of self worth until you begin to question | | | | greater independence, like through employment or |
| your own perceptions of reality. If you find yourself | | | | education, your partner's response is typically |
| feeling incapable, inferior, anxious, and crazy around | | | | discouraging or prohibitive. |
| your partner, you might be a victim of emotional | | | | 4. Your intimacy with your partner has more to do |
| abuse. Here are 5 signs your relationship might be | | | | with you being dominated or controlled, than it does |
| emotionally abusive: | | | | with expression of love, care, and consideration. It |
| 1. A common theme in your interactions with your | | | | may be a demand from your partner that doesn't |
| partner is criticism. Your partner might insult you by | | | | take into account your feelings, or it may be a |
| calling you names, or it may be more subtle than this, | | | | purposeful withholding of intimacy that leaves you |
| and be comprised of criticism or "suggestion" about | | | | feeling rejected and confused. |
| various things you do. | | | | 5. Once in awhile your partner might do something |
| 2. You're finding yourself increasingly isolated by your | | | | kind for you, but this is not the norm, and usually |
| partner form family and friends. He or she might | | | | occurs as a strategy for keeping you in the |
| directly prohibit you from seeing a certain person, | | | | relationship if you begin to pull away. Much of the |
| guilt trip you over "choosing" someone else to spend | | | | time, you feel a sense of non-physical threat hanging |
| your time with, or otherwise make it so unpleasant | | | | over your head if you don't behave as your partner |
| and confrontational that it seems easier to refrain | | | | wants. |