Heads Up! TRIGGER WARNING! Serious Consequences of Emotional Abuse! WHAT YOU Can Do!

When we think of abuse, we often associate it with situations and scenarios involving a physical altercation. Few people know that there is also a mental form of abuse. Although there are no visible wounds, bruises or other marks, victims suffer at least as much from mental abuse as they do from physical abuse. In this article, you'll learn what mental abuse is and what it can do to those affected. At this point, we would like to point out that the article is for informational purposes only and does not replace a diagnosis. 

First, let's answer the question: What is psychological abuse?

Psychological abuse can be verbal, emotional or psychological in nature. Insults, manipulation, and oppression are among the common forms of psychological abuse. The perpetrators want to control, humiliate or exploit their victims. To do so, they yell at their victims, isolate them from family and friends, violate privacy, or humiliate victims in public. Psychological abuse is often overlooked or not taken seriously because it is very difficult to recognize. Yet psychological abuse is by no means less dangerous than physical abuse.

What does psychological abuse do to those affected? In the following, we will show you 6 examples of the consequences that psychological abuse can have for those affected.

1. You doubt yourself.

The worst thing that psychological abuse can do to a person is cause them to feel great guilt and self-doubt. This happens especially often when the abuser is also the significant other, for example. Victims often blame themselves, wondering what they should have done to change the situation or why they didn't fight back. Often, victims blame themselves for the abuse or start by putting themselves down. The purpose of psychological abuse for perpetrators is to destroy self-esteem and self-confidence so that victims accept the abuse and become compliant. As a result, victims doubt being important to friends and family, which is why it is not uncommon to break off contact.

2. The struggle with self-blame

Most sufferers of psychological abuse not only tend to doubt themselves, they also blame themselves. Victims look for reasons why they themselves are to blame for what they experienced and, in the aftermath, evaluate what they should have done differently to ward off the attacks. Spending hours looking for counterarguments is also typical for sufferers. The great self-recrimination is the most common reason why many abuse victims still have difficulty coming to terms with their trauma years later.

3. You lose confidence in your own mind.

Constant emotional manipulation, where perception is deceived, is one of the most common forms of psychological abuse. Sufferers of this type of psychological abuse question their own sanity. The loss of confidence in one's own judgment is very hard. Sufferers believe the lies of others rather than their own memories. They also often disregard their own gut feelings.

4. You talk down the deeds

A major problem is that victims are often asked if they have also been physically abused or felt threatened. A negative answer to such questions makes victims feel that what they experienced is not bad. Many feel ashamed and for this reason refrain from filing a report and similar measures. Help is often not sought because the shame and fear are too great.

5. Constantly reliving flashbacks.

Trauma is a common reaction to abuse. It does not matter if the abuse is physical or mental. Affected abuse victims may experience panic attacks when certain triggers occur, which are triggered by internal flashbacks. Even though victims are often unaware that what they have experienced has been detrimental to their mental health, the mind associates certain situations with danger, of which it wants to warn the victim with panic attacks. Signs of a panic attack are symptoms such as tense muscles, sudden trembling or sweating, and rapid heartbeat. Triggers for such an attack are usually things related to abuse. For example, these are certain words, a certain place or an overall situation. The flashbacks often occur suddenly and are unpleasant to experience.

6. Victims develop difficulty trusting other people.

Psychological abuse often occurs at the hands of perpetrators who are very close to the victim and are trusted confidants. It is difficult for many victims to get involved with another person again and to enjoy mutual trust, even if the traumatic experiences happened a long time ago. The relationship with friends, relatives and family members is also irrevocably damaged after regular psychological assaults. This is because the affected person has had to experience firsthand how painful it is to trust the wrong person. Even if the person involved was previously very open-hearted, forgiving and fun-loving, paranoia, fear and insecurity dominate that person after the psychological abuse.

What can you do if you know someone who has been affected?

If you know someone who is a victim of abuse, you should not hesitate to approach the person. It doesn't matter if the abuse is physical or psychological. Take plenty of time to talk and let the other person talk, but don't pressure them. Show the person that you are there for him and that you take him and his problems seriously. You should not judge what you have experienced. Explain to the person why it is important to seek professional help and what options they have.

What can you do if you are affected yourself?

If you are affected yourself, you must first recognize your situation. Be aware that you are a victim and not a perpetrator. Recognize that psychological abuse is also a form of violence. Confide in someone. If you do not want to trust anyone in your immediate environment, you can turn to self-help groups or even certain emergency groups. Here you will be received with understanding and your data and statements will be treated confidentially. Try to separate yourself from the person who is harming you and find a safe space where no one can harm you. Contact a psychotherapist and accept their help. You have been through a lot and you will not be able to cope without help. Give yourself the time you need. It will take you a long time to recover from your trauma and that is perfectly okay. You can report your abuser when you are ready. Don't let anyone force you to do anything and make it clear when someone crosses a line.

Today’s Conclusion: Psychological abuse is common

Often it is not recognized by those around the affected person. The victims themselves also have difficulty seeking help due to shame and self-esteem issues. Psychological abuse is no less serious than physical abuse. It can make people ill and result in serious mental illness. Anyone who is abused by another person should seek professional help as soon as possible and realize that any form of violence, including psychological, deserves to be heard. That's it for today.