Emotional abuse, like physical abuse, develops in cycles: the abuse builds as the abuser tries to establish dominance, then the abuser expresses remorse and life returns to normal. However, the cycle will start up again, often with the abuser acting in a more extreme manner. [1] X Research source
swearing or yelling name calling, mocking, and insults verbal or physical threats or intimidation isolation or excluding someone
The abuser criticizes, judges, or humiliates you. The abuser dominates or controls you. The abuser focuses on blame and accusation. You are the victim of emotional distancing.
The child withdraws socially. The child loses self-confidence or suffers a decline in school performance. The child is desperate for approval and affection. The child suffers repeat ailments like stomachaches or headaches that do not have a medical cause.
They often suffer from hopelessness or low self-esteem. They become shy and withdrawn. They experience sudden changes in sleeping or eating habits. They express a desire to hurt themselves or someone else.
You obsess about work while at home and have trouble sleeping at night. You come home from work lifeless and without any emotional energy. You are afraid to admit to loved ones that you are being bullied and may even suspect that you brought the abuse on yourself. You are isolated by other employees, some of whom are afraid to work with you. Nothing you do is good enough for your boss, and your boss expects perfect performance without offering adequate training or supervision.
You may also find that writing a journal is cathartic and an effective defense mechanism against the emotional abuse. However, you should be careful that you do not leave the journal lying around. If you live with the abuser, then the abuser could find the journal. Instead of keeping a clothbound journal, you could keep a digital one. Take notes on your smart phone or laptop and store them electronically. It is much harder to find your notes on an electronic device, especially if it is password protected.
If you live with the abuser, then see if a trusted friend or family member will hold onto copies of these communications. [10] X Trustworthy Source National Domestic Violence Hotline Organization providing lifesaving tools, support, and resources for victims and survivors of domestic abuse Go to source
Tell your doctor about the emotional abuse. By reporting it, your doctor can make a note in your medical records. A copy of your medical reports will then serve as powerful evidence of the emotional abuse and its physical effects on you. If you are taking a child or elderly adult to the doctor, then you can inform the doctor that you think the person is being emotionally abused. The doctor can then talk to the patient and draw out helpful information.
Some people might hesitate to tell someone else that they are being abused. The elderly, for example, may feel embarrassed that they are powerless. Children may be fear that you will believe the things the abuser says about them. To put people at ease, simply ask them what they are feeling. This strategy can help them open up.
Find someone you trust. You may fear physical violence from your abuser. You don’t want the person you confide in to tell other people. In that situation, the abuser could find out that you have been complaining about him or her and strike back.
your relationship to the child the child’s name and age the child’s home address and current location the suspected abuser and his or her relationship to the child the parents’ contact information the names of other witnesses and contact information for each
the elder person’s name his or her address and contact information the reasons why you suspect emotional abuse the extend of the elder person’s family or social support network whether you have seen abusive behavior if you know of any medical problems, such as dementia
You might work for a small company without a Human Resources department. In that situation, you should talk to the business owner to report bullying by your coworkers. If your boss is the bully, then you might not have any other choice but to quit your job.
