Signs that you are in a physically abusive relationship are hard to miss. They’re overt and often colorful or otherwise obvious. Signs that you are in an emotionally abusive relationship, however, can be difficult to suss out. But, not impossible and certainly worth your self-respect and sanity.
Pay attention and note if you are always tip-toeing around your partner, apologizing, or having to try to hard to get in the mood for sex with him, or her. Emotional abusers want power over their partners. To that end, they may try to make you doubt yourself, by inferring you are unable to see things as they are. They may be withholding of affection, unwilling to acknowledge your positive attributes and micromanagers when it comes to your time.
Key Takeaways:
- Unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse can sometimes have shades of subtlety.
- Walking on eggshells, needing to check in with your partner and hurtful jokes are signs of emotionally abusive relationships.
- Unpredictable behavior, punishing a person by withholding things, and being manipulated emotionally are other symptoms.
“The scars of emotional abuse may not be visible to the eye, but the effect it has on the victim can be traumatic.”