Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse

As the nation is adorned in pink this month to heighten awareness for early detection of breast cancer and the need for continued research, it is important to recognize that the month of October is also dedicated to spreading awareness of the debilitating effects of domestic violence on individuals,  families, and society as a whole. Domestic violence happens to both men and women across all walks of life.  One in four women will experience domestic violence within their lifetime, and most incidents of domestic violence are never reported to the police.

Domestic violence is defined as the purposeful physical assault, sexual assault, intimidation, emotional abuse, and/or other abusive actions by a person against their intimate partner (Domestic Violence Facts, 2007).  All too often the bruises, scars, and effects of abuse remain hidden leaving the person being abused to suffer in silence.  While both physical and emotional abuse constitutes the degradation a person’s self-worth, the main purpose of this blog post is to bring awareness to the endemic effects of emotional abuse as incidences of emotional abuse are less likely to be reported and those that are tend to far less likely to be investigated (Stosky, 2008).  

Emotional abuse (also known as psychological abuse or mental abuse) can be defined as:  (1) a relationship in which one party systematically controls the other by undermining a person’s confidence, worthiness, growth, or trust; (2) the act of intentionally attempting to make a person feel crazy or unstable; or, (3) manipulating a person with fear or shame (Stosny, 2008).  Examples of emotional abuse include verbal abuse, constant criticism, manipulation, intimidation, and the refusal of a partner to ever be pleased (Engle, 1992).

Unfortunately, the dire effects of emotional abuse are endemic in our society and there are few resources available to assist individual claims of emotionally related domestic violence.  Awareness and prevention of this underreported abuse needs to be heightened as it is frequently occurs concurrently with physical abuse plus it is often more psychologically damaging than physical abuse due to emotional abuse frequently occurring daily and the person being abused often blame themselves (Stosky, 2008).   Mental health professionals too often encounter both women and men suffering in silence.  If you are being abused—emotionally, physically, sexually, or otherwise, there are resources available to assist you in regaining stability and finding solid ground in your life.  A mental health professional can help you understand how the emotional abuse has impacted yourself, your relationships, and to learn better ways of forming healthy, respectful relationships with others (Domestic Violence Facts, 2007). 

Please contact the qualified professionals at RCBM to schedule an appointment or a list of resources at (248) 608-8800.  Further resources include the Statewide Domestic Violence Linkline at 1-800-897-LINK, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.

Written by Karen Farrar, L.L.M.S.W. and Kendra Neimi, M.S.N,. R.N., P.M.H.N.P., -B.C.