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Not all abuse is physical, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t incredibly harmful. Physical abuse, also known as mental oremotional abuse, involves using verbal and non-verbal communication to try to control someone or harm them emotionally.

Though psychological abuse doesn’t leave bruises and broken bones, it can cause severe emotional issues and mental health conditions. Researchers have shown that emotional abuse can have long-lasting negative effects on mental well-being, including a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, and neuroticism.

The problem is that this form of abuse can be harder to detect. However, it’s important to recognize it and seek help as soon as possible, as it is often aprecursor to physical abuse.

At a GlanceBecause emotional abuse often goes unreported, it’s hard to estimate just often it happens. However, some experts believe that it is the most common type of abuse that happens in relationships. It doesn’t just occur in the context of romantic relationships; it can also happen at work, in family relationships, and in friendships. It can take many forms, include verbal aggression, controlling behaviors, humiliation, and ridicule, which is why it can sometimes be difficult to recognize. If you think that you or someone you know is a victim of psychological abuse, it is important to take steps to get help and leave the abusive situation as soon as possible.

At a Glance

Because emotional abuse often goes unreported, it’s hard to estimate just often it happens. However, some experts believe that it is the most common type of abuse that happens in relationships. It doesn’t just occur in the context of romantic relationships; it can also happen at work, in family relationships, and in friendships. It can take many forms, include verbal aggression, controlling behaviors, humiliation, and ridicule, which is why it can sometimes be difficult to recognize. If you think that you or someone you know is a victim of psychological abuse, it is important to take steps to get help and leave the abusive situation as soon as possible.

Signs of Psychological Abuse

Emotional abuse isn’t always easy to spot. These are some of thewarning signsthat someone is being psychologically abused:

There are also more subtle signs, such as:

Abuse By Proxy

Examples of Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse involves behaviors that are designed to cause another person mental or emotional harm. No one is perfect, and we all do things that might hurt another person from time to time. Abuse, however, is deliberate and persistent. It isn’t a one-time thing. It happens over and over again, often to the point that it starts to undermine your confidence, well-being, and self-worth.

Psychological abuse can take different forms, which can include:

Psychological Abuse Can Happen to AnyonePsychological abuse can happen to anyone in any type of relationship, including friendships, working relationships, intimate relationships, or familial relationships.It can happen in straight relationships and LGBTQ+ relationships. In monogamous and polyamorous relationships.Child abuseand intimate partner abuse are among the most common forms of abuse and are considered serious public health issues.

Psychological Abuse Can Happen to Anyone

Psychological abuse can happen to anyone in any type of relationship, including friendships, working relationships, intimate relationships, or familial relationships.It can happen in straight relationships and LGBTQ+ relationships. In monogamous and polyamorous relationships.Child abuseand intimate partner abuse are among the most common forms of abuse and are considered serious public health issues.

Types of Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse can occur in any relationship, but child abuse and intimate partner violence are two of the most common types.

Child Abuse

These are some examples of psychological child abuse:

Children who have been emotionally abused may have:

Psychological abuse can be just as damaging to children as physical orsexual abuse; however, it can be harder to detect, so people may be less likely to help the child.

Children who have grown up with abusive caregivers may have trouble recognizing that they are being abused, as it may seem like normal behavior to them.As a result, they may carry these behaviors forward and behave abusively or seek relationships with abusers in their adult lives.

If you are a victim of child abuse or know someone who might be, call or text theChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotlineat1-800-422-4453to speak with a professional crisis counselor.

Intimate Partner Abuse

Experiencing intimate partner abuse can cause you to:

9 Ways to Help a Victim of Domestic Violence

Coping With Psychological Abuse

Here are some strategies that can help you cope if you have experienced psychological abuse:

Remember That You’re Not to BlameRemind yourself repeatedly that you are not toblamefor being abused. You do not deserve to be abused, and you have not caused the abuse.

Remember That You’re Not to Blame

Remind yourself repeatedly that you are not toblamefor being abused. You do not deserve to be abused, and you have not caused the abuse.

Takeaways

Psychological abuse can affect your sense of self and leaveemotional scarsthat may take a long time to recover. Once you can leave an abusive situation and secure your safety, it’s important to practice self-care and compassion to help you heal, seek therapy if you need it, and remember you’re not to blame in any way.

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat1-800-799-7233for confidential assistance from trained advocates.If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat1-800-799-7233for confidential assistance from trained advocates.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing intimate partner violence.Dye HL.Is emotional abuse as harmful as physical and/or sexual abuse?J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2019;13(4):399-407. doi:10.1007/s40653-019-00292-yNational Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Signs of abuse.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.Nemours Foundation.Abuse.Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012National Library of Medicine.Child neglect and emotional abuse.Medline Plus.Ahn YD, Jang S, Shin J, Kim JW.Psychological aspects of child maltreatment.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2022;65(3):408-414. doi:10.3340/jkns.2021.0300Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2016/2017 Report on Intimate Partner Violence.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Emotional and verbal abuse.

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing intimate partner violence.Dye HL.Is emotional abuse as harmful as physical and/or sexual abuse?J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2019;13(4):399-407. doi:10.1007/s40653-019-00292-yNational Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Signs of abuse.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.Nemours Foundation.Abuse.Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012National Library of Medicine.Child neglect and emotional abuse.Medline Plus.Ahn YD, Jang S, Shin J, Kim JW.Psychological aspects of child maltreatment.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2022;65(3):408-414. doi:10.3340/jkns.2021.0300Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2016/2017 Report on Intimate Partner Violence.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Emotional and verbal abuse.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing intimate partner violence.Dye HL.Is emotional abuse as harmful as physical and/or sexual abuse?J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2019;13(4):399-407. doi:10.1007/s40653-019-00292-yNational Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Signs of abuse.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.Nemours Foundation.Abuse.Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012National Library of Medicine.Child neglect and emotional abuse.Medline Plus.Ahn YD, Jang S, Shin J, Kim JW.Psychological aspects of child maltreatment.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2022;65(3):408-414. doi:10.3340/jkns.2021.0300Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2016/2017 Report on Intimate Partner Violence.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Emotional and verbal abuse.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing intimate partner violence.

Dye HL.Is emotional abuse as harmful as physical and/or sexual abuse?J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2019;13(4):399-407. doi:10.1007/s40653-019-00292-y

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Signs of abuse.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.Types and signs of abuse.

Nemours Foundation.Abuse.

Li S, Zhao F, Yu G.Childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence victimization: A meta-analysis.Child Abuse Negl. 2019;88:212-224. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.11.012

National Library of Medicine.Child neglect and emotional abuse.Medline Plus.

Ahn YD, Jang S, Shin J, Kim JW.Psychological aspects of child maltreatment.J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2022;65(3):408-414. doi:10.3340/jkns.2021.0300

Greene CA, Haisley L, Wallace C, Ford JD.Intergenerational effects of childhood maltreatment: A systematic review of the parenting practices of adult survivors of childhood abuse, neglect, and violence.Clin Psychol Rev. 2020;80:101891. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101891

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.2016/2017 Report on Intimate Partner Violence.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Emotional and verbal abuse.

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