Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse can be very obvious when it takes the form of shouting and personal insults but it can also take more subtle forms. For example, refusing to discuss issues you think are important, discounting your opinion and making subtle allusions to your lack of intelligence or poor judgement are all forms of verbal abuse.

Verbal abuse can include mocking you, laughing at your opinions, making fun of you in public and leaving you abusive messages.

An abuser who uses verbal abuse to intimidate and undermine relies on the person experiencing the abuse, and society, accepting their abusive behaviour and not recognising its serious destructive effects.