| What exactly comes into your mind when you hear | | | | happens, or however it got started, the blame is |
| the word abuse? When most people think about it, | | | | always thrown in your direction. Your partner might |
| physical abuse is the only thing that comes up. | | | | claim and argue that his behavior was caused by |
| Everyone seems to forget about emotional abuse. | | | | something that you said or did. They might even go |
| Abuse usually means visual damage like nasty bruises | | | | as far as saying that if you hadn't said what you said |
| or broken bones, not the deep and permanent | | | | or done what you did, then the whole thing would |
| emotional scars left on the victim that nobody can | | | | not have even happened. Having this sort of thing |
| see. Emotional abuse, whether it is mental or verbal, | | | | happen often enough can also result in you getting |
| can completely ruin a woman's self esteem. Pretty | | | | brainwashed. Before you know it you will start |
| soon the vibrant, happy person she used to be will | | | | assuming and believing that everything is your fault, |
| no longer exist, and she will become someone else. | | | | which just gives your abusive partner that much |
| The right thing for a woman to do in this kind of | | | | more power over you. |
| situation is leave or get a divorce, but that is easier | | | | A third way to tell if you are a victim of mental or |
| said than done for most. Years of constant criticism | | | | emotional abuse is thinking about how your partner |
| can leave a woman afraid to leave or attempt to get | | | | treats you. It's common in an abusive relationship for |
| a divorce because she isn't sure if she can make it on | | | | him to treat you nice one day and then treat you like |
| her own anymore. | | | | dirt the next, a difference much like hot and cold. He |
| Let's talk more about emotional abuse, the ways it is | | | | might be very loving toward you, and then all of a |
| inflicted, and some of the effects it can have on | | | | sudden get extremely critical. Or he might tell you |
| women. Sticks and stones might not break bones, | | | | just how much he loves you, and then act |
| but they can still do some serious damage. Words | | | | inconsiderate, like he doesn't even care. You can do |
| are more powerful than you think, and they can | | | | absolutely everything in your power to try and make |
| really hurt you over a long period of time. The worst | | | | him happy, but it never seems to be good enough. |
| part is that if you hear the same words often | | | | In this case you actually become more like a pet dog |
| enough, it might even have a brainwashing effect on | | | | or cat in your relationship instead of an equal partner |
| you. The first time your partner calls you ugly or | | | | (the way it should be). All of your efforts and |
| worthless will hurt a lot, but if they keep doing it | | | | attempts to make him happy bring you minimal |
| over time, it will make you get used to hearing it. If it | | | | success. He might act like he loves it one minute, and |
| happens often enough for a long enough period of | | | | then act like he could seriously care less the next. |
| time, you will start subconsciously believing it yourself. | | | | The reason that you wonder how your partner can |
| If you let this happen, you are pretty much doing the | | | | treat you that way is because you are involved in a |
| other person's work, and putting yourself down for | | | | control-based relationship. Your partner is struggling |
| them. | | | | with his own feelings of being worthless, and he uses |
| Another good example of emotional abuse is always | | | | his relationship with you to give him that feeling of |
| being told that things are your fault. No matter what | | | | personal power. |