emotional abuse

Domestic abuse affects as many as one in four women and one in nine men during their lifetimes. But recognizing it isn’t always straightforward. Abuse rarely announces itself with obvious violence. More often, it builds slowly through patterns of control that erode your sense of reality, safety, and self—physical harm,…

Picture this: Your partner said they’d be home by 9 p.m., but it’s 11 p.m. and you haven’t heard anything. When they finally walk in, you ask where they’ve been. “What do you mean? I said I’d be out late.” You remind them what time they texted, and they correct…

You find yourself constantly second-guessing decisions you used to make easily. You feel guilty for setting boundaries with someone who hurt you—maybe you even worry you abandoned them. You wonder if you’re overreacting, or if what you experienced really was that bad. These are all signs of narcissistic abuse, and…

In unhealthy or abusive relationships, many complex feelings and dynamics can develop over time. These relationships are rarely simple, which can make them difficult to end.  In the case of trauma-bonded relationships, breaking a trauma bond can be a long and involved process. However, with the right help from a…

Kids depend on their parents in many senses, but especially emotionally. However, sometimes parents can seek a level of emotional support from their child that should be pursued and fulfilled in an adult relationship.  This dynamic is called “emotional incest,” with the child taking on an inappropriate level of emotional…

Divorcing a narcissist is a formidable challenge, marked by complexities and unique hurdles. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or narcissistic personality traits often exhibit a distinct lack of empathy, and false beliefs in their grandiosity that can complicate the divorce process. This can add an intensity or venom to…

The basis of all healthy relationships typically includes empathy, patience, and mutual support between everyone involved. But in a narcissistic relationship pattern, these healthy markers aren’t usually present. One of the key indicators of narcissism is a disregard for the well-being of others. In a relationship with a narcissistic individual,…

Each October, volunteers, families, employers, and advocacy groups work together for a common purpose: to bring Domestic Violence Awareness Month into the public’s eye. Since 1989, 31 days in October remind us of the strength and resilience of domestic violence survivors—we’re encouraged to help support them through educating ourselves, volunteering, …

We sometimes use the terms “verbal abuse” and “emotional abuse” interchangeably… but we shouldn’t. Because while they might overlap, verbal abuse and emotional abuse are very different, with distinct characteristics and impacts. Verbal Abuse: The Aggressive Use (or Suppression) of Language Verbal abuse is the use of language to hurt…

Gaslighting: As Emotional Abuse Emotional abuse sabotages someone’s feelings. It leaves the victim confused, unhappy, fearful, and incapable of ending the problem unless they can escape or outsmart the emotional abuser. Gaslighting sabotages the victim’s self-confidence. It leaves them fearful and unable to correct the lies being told to and…

A Comprehensive Look at Gaslighting For a complete and extensive understanding of gaslighting—a dangerous and frightening form of manipulation—pull up a seat and get ready for a lesson from Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sheri Heller. She explains exactly what gaslighting is and how these manipulators pull it off: “Gaslighting is…