| It's the cycle of abuse. Abusers always have a | | | | - You've never received an apology, even when |
| history of childhood abuse. They don't mean to pass | | | | you've been right. |
| it on and they would do better if they knew how. | | | | - You take the blame & responsibility for other |
| Whether you are the abuse victim or perpetrator, | | | | people's unhappiness or problems. |
| you must make a decision to stop the cycle of | | | | - You suffer from low self esteem. |
| dysfunction now. Yes, the spider web of abuse is | | | | - Believe jealousy is proof of love. |
| huge, but it can be healed. | | | | Many people think emotional abuse only happens in |
| Signs of Emotional Abuse: | | | | love relationships, like boyfriend to girlfriend or |
| - Unrelenting criticism | | | | husband to wife. But domestic abuse is not the only |
| - Yelling | | | | hot bed of pain. Emotional abuse can be seen in child |
| - Intimidation | | | | abuse, elder abuse, between friends, family |
| - Sulking | | | | members, co-workers, neighbors and just about any |
| - Manipulation | | | | combination of two or more people. |
| - Refusal to be pleased, no matter what you do or | | | | Solutions to Emotional Abuse: |
| say | | | | - If you are involved in an emotionally abusive |
| - Neglect | | | | relationship of any kind, get out now. And don't go |
| - Abandonment | | | | back until professional help is sought and completed |
| - Denies you outside friends or hobbies | | | | by both of you. Sharon is a woman whose health |
| - Insists on going everywhere with you | | | | was severely compromised as a result of working in |
| - Negates your opinion | | | | a department where her co-workers shunned her, |
| - Won't support your success | | | | made fun of her, lied about her and gossiped about |
| It's easy to see if you have been affected by | | | | her lack of success and brains. Several times she did |
| emotional abuse, because the effect of abuse warps | | | | report abuse, but her immediate supervisor, as well |
| personalities. | | | | as the human resources department, did nothing to |
| Symptoms You Have Been Emotionally Abused: | | | | help her. No paycheck in the world is worth this kind |
| - You are afraid to state your opinion for fear of | | | | of treatment. Sharon was so beaten down from |
| retaliation. | | | | years of this abuse that she finally gave up and quit |
| - You've slowly stopped doing things you enjoy. | | | | her job, before she ended up in the hospital. So, get |
| - If you miss a phone call, text message or email, | | | | away from the abuse immediately. |
| you hurry to respond, hoping to avoid a fight. | | | | - Stop the abuse by calling for help. The National |
| - You have been ignored or rejected as a | | | | Domestic Abuse Hotline is open 24 hours a day. |
| "punishment" for your behavior. | | | | 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) |
| - You agree to things just to avoid a fight. | | | | Let the cycle of abuse stop now and RUN for help. |
| - You report where you are, who you are with and | | | | Not another day of abuse needs to be a part of |
| what you are doing. | | | | your life. |