Nothing is more harmful to your mental health than being in an emotionally abusive relationship. Unlike obvious physical abuse, emotional abuse is more elusive and insidious.
What is an emotionally harmful relationship?
Any damaging relationship involves constant patterns of verbal crime, threats, bullying, and constant criticism, as well as subtler tactics such as intimidation, justification, and manipulation.
Emotional abuse is used to control the other person, and it often occurs because the abuser has childhood wounds and insecurities that have not been addressed – possibly as a result of their exposure to psychological abuse.
They have not learned healthy coping mechanisms or how to have positive and healthy relationships, and instead, they feel anger, hurt fear, and helplessness.
Males and females abusers tend to have a high incidence of personality disorders, narcissism, and antisocial disorders.
Although emotional abuse does not always lead to physical abuse, physical abuse is almost always preceded and accompanied by emotional abuse.
Often, the victim does not realize that she is in a harmful relationship, but rather tries to endure the pressure, adapt to the deprivation, and reduce the situation she is exposed to.
But the long-term effects of emotional abuse can cause severe emotional trauma in the victim, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Signs that you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship
Support and frustration
The first step in thinking about an abusive relationship is to ask yourself: Do you share your dreams and plans with your partner, if not, why?
Is your enthusiasm for a project or hobby you have met with mockery or apathy? Think about it, noting that healthy relationships are supportive.
Naturally, we do not always agree with all of our partner’s life plans, but it is necessary to listen to him respectfully, and not to underestimate his dreams even if they seem to us.
Your non-abusive partner is happy with the good opportunities that come to you, and for you, he is a parallel world in which you share your dreams freely, so you should pay attention to this sign.
Admiration and criticism
Did everyone praise your new wardrobe, or increase your shine after losing some weight, or the last article you wrote on your blog, while the most important person is the only person whose congratulations you want to hear and be content with about the world; Didn’t he?
This is another sign that you are in a hurtful relationship. An emotionally abusive person is making sure not to pay attention to your success, tearing you down, and always keeping you down.
He doesn’t want you to feel better about yourself, and you automatically find yourself thinking that everything you do is not enough and that you have to work harder, and that you can do better than that.
Instead of receiving love and praise from your partner, you will get reactions that drop you a step further.
Sympathy and indifference
Have you ever been sad about losing your dog, or your uncle’s illness, or losing a race, and needing a shoulder to lean on and cry on, then thought that your partner could not be relied upon in such situations? Then you are in an abusive relationship.
Emotionally abusive people always want to keep you under their control, to be completely focused on them.
They also cannot handle your problems, so they tend to quickly finish them so that they are back under their control.
On the contrary, we find a loving partner always around, it is the only place that makes us feel safe, compensates us for loss and sadness, suffers from our loss, and stands by our side.
Be careful if you don’t find your partner by your side during tough times.
Balance and disruption
Very few relationships can be devoid of rocky moments or even rocky periods.
Life does not go at the same pace, and running through problems is a natural and healthy thing in emotional relationships.
So when healthy couples find themselves in these unpleasant stages, they focus on re-righting things and strive to maintain psychological peace in the relationship, because that makes them at their best.
Conversely, emotionally harmful relationships thrive in turmoil and rarely feel at peace or balance. If your relationship is constantly based on chaos and turmoil, and your energy and resilience are completely depleted, it is time for some serious relationship reflection.
Responsibility and blame
Abuse happens when your partner refuses to accept responsibility and blames you.
In cases such as taking care of children, if you did not ask him to participate in it from the beginning, you find him, this is considered one of your duties only, and he is busy at work or watching television without offering you help.
And every mistake that happens to them, you find him blaming you and accusing you of negligence, and any discussion with him about the need to help you at home is completely useless.
He feels that all his dashed hopes in life have external causes, and you become the closest target to blaming him.
Read also: Secret relationship, Reasons A Secret Relationship Can Be A Major Turn-On Read also: How to get out of an abusive relationship step by step guide?
