Breaking The Cycle Of Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse involves frequent criticism and verbal threats as well as shaming and bullying. The abuser uses these tactics with the aim of maintaining power and control over the person that they are targeting. The effects of emotional abuse include low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Read our blog to discover some of the strategies that you can use to stop emotional abuse.
While we’ll suggest steps that you can take to stop emotional abuse, it is important to remember that each person’s journey towards healing is different. It’s essential to be gentle with yourself and to keep yourself safe while you are reclaiming your life from abuse. At the heart of this process is self-love and cultivating compassion for yourself.
• Practice self-love
In order to heal from emotional abuse, you’ll need to develop a practice of self-nurturing. Realising that you deserve to be treated with kindness and respect is a vital part of this process. Set time aside each day to do something that you enjoy. Whether it’s going for a walk or reading a book, making time for yourself is an important step towards putting your needs first.
• Get the support that you need
Connection is a basic human need and a tactic of abusers is to isolate the person that they are targeting. When you spend time nurturing healthy relationships, it helps to build your sense of self-worth. If you have people in your life who you trust to provide a non-judgmental space for you to discuss your feelings, you can talk to them about your concerns. Alternatively, you can get professional support.
• Establish boundaries
An essential part of establishing boundaries is realising that you are not to blame for your partner’s abusive outbursts. Establish a strategy to keep yourself emotionally and physically safe when your partner becomes abusive. This may involve exiting the room or staying at a friend’s house.
• Plan to leave your relationship
If you decide that you want to leave the relationship, you will need to develop an exit strategy. You may decide to get divorced or to break up with your abuser. While it may be a simple act of terminating the relationship, there may be reasons that make it difficult for you to leave. If you are financially dependent on your partner, you can begin your exit strategy by starting to save money. You could also ask a friend or family member that you trust for support. Whether it’s someone to talk to or someone who can offer you a safe place to stay, connecting with a caring individual is helpful as you plan to leave your unhealthy relationship.
While we’ve offered you some strategies on how to stop emotional abuse, it’s important to make sure that you are safe as you start to reclaim your life.
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