Did you know that half of all people have experienced psychologically aggressive behavior from a partner? Emotional abuse is all too common, yet it doesn’t get talked about often enough.
Though emotional abuse doesn’t leave bruises, the damage it does is every bit as painful. A partner’s emotionally abusive behavior can impact every aspect of your life, even if you’ve broken up.
However, overcoming emotional abuse is possible, no matter how difficult it may seem.
Learn the Signs of Abuse
Emotional abuse isn’t always apparent. You might have even struggled with emotional abuse without realizing it. Still, the effects of emotional abuse can cause serious damage to a person’s psyche, so it’s important to recognize what constitutes emotional abuse.
Here are a few of the most common symptoms associated with emotional abuse:
- Shouting
- Hurtful language and demeaning comments
- Dismissal of a partner’s feelings
- Attempts to control
- Blame
- Threats
Make no mistake, emotional abuse is every bit as dangerous as physical abuse and can even lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Recognize That It’s Not Your Fault
This ties into the symptom of blame, as mentioned above. In many instances, the abuser will tell their partner that the abuse is their fault, not the fault of the abuser.
That type of thinking leads to long-lasting psychological scarring and you might feel as though you deserved whatever happened to you.
We’re here to tell you that that’s not true. You deserve to be happy, and what happened to you wasn’t because of anything you did.
Give Yourself Time
Overcoming emotional abuse isn’t easy by any stretch. The healing process takes a great deal of time.
You’re going to stumble, and that’s okay. What matters is that you continue to do everything in your power to work through your trauma and come out the other side a stronger person.
Be patient with yourself and allow yourself the time and space you need to heal.
Look for the Good
We’ll be the first to admit that this step isn’t easy, but it’s important all the same as how we think influences the world around us.
If you focus on the negative, you’ll tend to experience more negative feelings. However, the same is true of positivity.
Positive thinking is linked to a longer life span, less stress, and even better physical health.
Every day, try and point out a few positive things. It can be something as simple as a compliment a friend gave you, or a good deed that you witnessed.
Write these feelings down in a private journal and read them back anytime you’re feeling upset. Remind yourself of the good and you’ll start to see more of it.
Final Thoughts on Overcoming Emotional Abuse
Before we wrap up, we’d like to say that you’re already making a difference just by reading this article. It proves that you’re interested in overcoming emotional abuse and healing, and for that, we’re proud of you.
However, this is just the start of your journey. We’d love to help you gain the tools and perspective that you need to overcome your past once and for all.
Get in touch today to learn about our counseling options.