Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse can be very difficult to recognise. It is subtle and is often overlooked by friends and family and even the person affected may not feel that they are being abused.

Emotional abuse can leave deep psychological scars and can seriously damage the self-confidence of the person experiencing the abuse.

The perpetrator of emotional abuse will often try to isolate and control the person affected as well as using words to undermine them.

Emotionally abusive behaviours, which seek to belittle someone, could be a constant disapproval of friends and family, criticism, making someone dress or behave in a certain way. It can also include more drastic actions such as moving frequently or to a remote area, denying access to a telephone and other means of communication, or threatening family members, children or pets.

Emotional abuse is designed to make a person feel beneath their abuser, keep them from realising their own self-worth and control them.