Emotional or psychological abuse Emotional abuse often coexists with other forms of abuse, and it is the most difficult to identify. Many of its potential consequences, such as learning and speech problems and delays in physical development, can also occur in children who are not being emotionally abused.
Emotional abuse is often a part of other kinds of abuse, which means it can be difficult to spot the signs or tell the difference, though it can also happen on its own.
Physical or sexual abuse may be easier to identify, as they often have physical evidence and a clear incident to reference. Emotional abuse is more often characterized by a pattern or collection of behaviors over time that can be difficult to recognize.
Physical injuries and severe neglect are more readily detectable than the subtle, less visible injuries which result from emotional and sexual abuse and bullying.
Emotional abuse has an important impact on a developing child's mental health, behaviour and self-esteem. It can be especially damaging in infancy. Underlying emotional abuse may be as important, if not more so, than other more visible forms of abuse in terms of its impact on the child.
By far the most visible form of abuse is physical abuse. This kind of abuse is condemned by almost everyone and it is estimated that one in four women are victims of this kind of abuse. The most common forms of abuse include hitting, throwing and scalding, even suffocation is on the list.
It's not always easy to spot signs of emotional abuse. You can learn to recognize abusive behaviors in others. But if you're experiencing abuse, you may notice your own behavior changes, too.
It is also a form of manipulation and control. The effects of mental abuse are just as detrimental as the effects of physical abuse. It is very difficult to not only recognize mental abuse but to then have the courage to confront it.
Psychological abuse is a complex issue, and identification and intervention are difficult at best. Because covert forms of psychological abuse may be harder to identify, clinicians need to pay particular attention to how both people feel in their relationship.
Emotional abuse versus mental abuse
Both forms of abuse can produce the same effects: PTSD, low self-esteem, eating disorders, etc — and in many cases, they are also accompanied by physical violence. Mental and emotional abuse often hide in plain sight. This makes physical abuse the most visible form of abuse.
Psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, social abuse, and financial abuse are all types of family bullying that can occur, with psychological abuse being the most common form.
What are the signs of child abuse? The signs of child abuse aren't always obvious, and a child might not feel able to tell anyone what's happening to them. Sometimes, children don't even realise that what's happening to them is abuse.
Studies show emotional abuse may be the most damaging form of maltreatment causing adverse developmental consequences equivalent to, or more severe than, those of other forms of abuse (Hart et al. 1996).
Indicators of Emotional Abuse
Bed-wetting or bed soiling that has no medical cause. Frequent psychosomatic complaints (e.g. headaches, nausea, abdominal pains) Prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea. Has not attained significant developmental milestones.
Narcissistic abuse occurs when a narcissist progressively manipulates and mistreats people to gain control over them, creating a toxic environment full of emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, or physical harm.
You may experience feelings of confusion, anxiety, shame, guilt, frequent crying, over-compliance, powerlessness, and more. You may stay in the relationship and try to bargain with the abuser or try to change the abuser's behavior, often placing blame on yourself, even though you are not at fault.
“It's making someone seem or feel unstable, irrational and not credible, making them feel like what they're seeing or experiencing isn't real, that they're making it up, that no one else will believe them.” Gaslighting involves an imbalance of power between the abuser and the person they're gaslighting.
Emotional abuse is linked to thinning of certain areas of the brain that help you manage emotions and be self-aware — especially the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe. Epigenetic changes and depression. Research from 2018 has connected childhood abuse to epigenetic brain changes that may cause depression.
Exposure to maltreatment or trauma early in life is linked to lower IQ, research finds. Being abused, physically or emotionally, neglected or witnessing domestic violence, was linked to an IQ score 7 points lower, on average.
Living through emotional abuse can lead to trauma, impacting both your mental and physical well-being. Healing after emotional abuse can take time, but it is possible to recover from the emotional wounds that abuse has caused, along with the help of an online therapist.
What are the effects of emotional or verbal abuse? Staying in an emotionally or verbally abusive relationship can have long-lasting effects on your physical and mental health, including leading to chronic pain, depression, or anxiety.
The highest rate of child abuse is in babies less than one year of age, and 25 percent of victims are younger than age three. The majority of cases reported to Child Protective Services involve neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse.
The term “Extreme Abuse” is used to describe extreme forms of deliberate physical, emotional, sexual and psychological harm against an individual. Examples include: Severe physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. Human trafficking/slavery. Ritual abuse.
The most common age group to see drug abuse and addiction is mid-teens to mid-twenties. It is far more probable to see in someone in the 18-25 range, according to the majority of government data.