Emotional violence doesn’t always happen in a loud voice.
Abuse of someone is a cruel and violent treatment of them. Emotional abuse, specifically, usually stands for loud shouting or screaming or complaining. But often it goes much more quietly. It’s extremely discrete, to the point where it’s pretty hard to be recognized.
Specialists call such unobvious domestic violence “quiet abuse”. This is a verbal form of abuse that we express through talking or through silence. It is a common problem among people who aren’t even coupled up. Actually, you may have even noticed it with buddies, coworkers, or relatives.And the symptoms are sometimes difficult for us to see.
Below are 7 signs of emotional abuse you might need to be aware of:
1. They are rude in a normal voice
Insulting at a normal noise level is also a way of abusing your partner emotionally. Giving offensive nicknames like “the retard” to a friend or a partner is a pure form of emotional violence. Such type of emotional abuse might come from a colleague or your boss as well. So, you should pay attention to this not only when it comes to your romantic relationship.
2. Mean behaviour
If your partner calls you “fatty”, then claims they’re just jerking you around and you’ve been overreacting, it’s a red flag! An emotionally abusive partner might call you too sensitive and mask it as a joke. And this to make you feel guilty when complaining about something they’ve done. Such behaviour is a form of verbal abuse seen in romantic relationships and the working environment. It can seriously influence the positive attitude you have about yourself. You shouldn’t accept it at all if it’s putting you down.
3. Make you feel guilty
The so-called guilt tripping is another form of emotional violence. This is an abusive manipulation that aims to make you do something for someone. No matter you might be feeling uncomfortable and mainly due to the fact you feel guilty.
4. They ignore you
Avoiding contact and engagement with you, when you disagree with your partner or friend is another signal. You could be a victim of stonewalling or be given the cold shoulder. In fact, this kind of behaviour can be the worst form of silent emotional violence.
5. Wouldn’t listen to you
If your partner or your friend doesn’t listen when you’re talking to them it means you have a problem with your relationship. Usually, this is a form of silent emotional abuse that could make you feel unappreciated. If this happens there’s no doubt you’re being abused and disrespected.
6. Bad treatment
Your partner might treat you badly or disrespectfully through their actions and yet blame you about taking it too seriously. As we mentioned before in such a situation a silent emotional abuser could try to excuse their behaviour. They could blame you for being too sensitive.
7. Humiliate you
Some important facts
Specialists are also discussing the issue of silent emotional abuse. Psychologists and therapists share the opinion that many abusers mask their behaviour in rhetoric which prevents partners from criticizing them about how they act. Finding ways to recognize such kind of abuse is an issue that has recently been scientifically explored.
Yous should remember that if your partner isn’t shouting at you or hitting you, it doesn’t mean they couldn’t be abusing you. In a more indirect way, however. If they are trying to dominate over you by chipping away at your self-confidence. Or if they are mean, or even just make nasty comments to you, pay attention!
Your partner might be an abuser.
If you don’t feel perfect when you are in their company because your partner or friend are behaving in any of the ways pointed above, you should end your relationship. The sooner the better. Violence is violence no matter the form of expression and the tone.
