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Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse can happen to anyone at any time in their lives.

Emotional abuse can have devastating consequences on relationships and for all those involved.

Just because there is no physical mark doesn’t mean the abuse isn’t real or isn’t a problem or even a crime.

One definition of emotional abuse is: “any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilisation, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth.”

Emotional abuse is also known as psychological abuse or as “chronic verbal aggression”.

People who suffer from emotional abuse tend to have very low self-esteem, show personality changes (such as becoming withdrawn, or being defensive) and may even become depressed, anxious or suicidal.

Some examples of behaviour may include someone who

  • Belittles someone, or puts them down 
  • Blames someone for the abuse or arguments 
  • Denies that abuse is happening, or downplays it 
  • Isolates someone from your family and friends 
  • Stops someone from going to college or work 
  • Makes unreasonable demands for their attention 
  • Accuses them of flirting or having affairs 
  • Tells them what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think 
  • Controls their money, or doesn’t given them enough to buy food or other essential things 
  • Monitors their social media profiles 
  • Share photos or videos of them without your consent 
  • Use GPS locators to know where they are

Resources

Women’s Aid – support for dealing with emotional abuse

Refuge – national helpline 0808 2000 247

Men’s Domestic Abuse Advice line – 0808 8010327 (Monday – Friday 10am – 8pm)  

Galop National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse helpline – Webchat or phone: 0800 999 5428  (Monday – Friday 9.15am – 4.30pm)