Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

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Definition

Emotional Abuse is when one person tries to control or make another person feel small through mean words, threats, or ignoring their needs. It's not about arguing from time to time; it's when one person keeps treating the other badly, making them feel bad about themselves.

Key Things to Know About Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can happen to anyone. It doesn't leave bruises or scars that you can see, but it's just as hurtful as getting physically hit.

How Emotional Abuse Impacts Mental Health

Over time, people subjected to emotional abuse may experience a significant loss of self-esteem and self-worth as they internalize the criticisms and negative messages from their abuser. This can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and helplessness, making it difficult for them to believe they deserve better treatment or that they can escape their situation.

Victims might also develop severe anxiety and depression as they live in a state of constant stress and fear caused by the unpredictability of their abuser's behavior. This ongoing tension can drain them of their energy and spirit. In many cases, sleep disturbances, irritability, and difficulty concentrating and/or making decisions impact daily functioning and quality of life. Emotional abuse can also lead to isolation.

Common Misconceptions

Some people think if you're not being hit, it's not abuse, but that's not true. Emotional abuse is real and very damaging. Another common misconception is that if someone is being abused, they should just leave. Over time, the combined effects of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and isolation can lead victims to believe they are trapped, with no way out and no possibility of improving their situation. 

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