Emotional Abuse Therapy Plymouth – Emotional abuse, which is classified as any abuse that is not physical in nature, is a form of abuse that can often be hard to spot to an outsider but is no less dangerous for the victim. One of the reasons that it can be so difficult to identify is that it can occur in almost any form, from outright verbal abuse to subliminal manipulation techniques to severe and constant gaslighting. Recognizing the signs of emotional abuse—which are not limited to romantic relationships—is one of the first steps in being able to identify potential signs of this abuse in your own life and the lives of those around you. Unfortunately, often victims of severe emotional abuse are left with trauma and mental health issues that can plague them for the rest of their lives if help is not received. The team at Horizon Plymouth are experts in the field who can provide you with the support that you need to begin to understand what has happened to you and to help you take the first steps in moving forward with your life.
Parent-child emotional abuse
Emotional and psychological abuse of a child by their parent can often be hard to detect and goes far beyond simply shouting harmful words. Parents who emotionally abuse their children employ a plethora of tactics to make their children feel worthless, neglected, or unlovable. Often these children are not aware that they are victims of emotional abuse but grow up to develop substance abuse problems and frequently have difficulty forming meaningful relationships of their own due to the trauma that they endured as a child. Parent-child emotional abuse can manifest as name-calling, blaming the child for any issues that arise, subjecting the child to unpredictable mood swings, and never allowing the child to feel loved and heard. The effects of this type of abuse are lifelong and require intentional counselling to move past.
Work-related emotional abuse
Although some might be surprised to hear that emotional abuse can occur in the workplace, any form of controlling another person and exerting power over them is emotional abuse, which mean that it absolutely does occur at work. The victim in these circumstances is often threatened, manipulated, isolated, or dismissed chronically and cruelly so that the abuser can ensure power and control over the victim. These instances may be outright aggressive but are often more subversive in order to avoid detection or proof of ill intent. Unfortunately, often instances of workplace emotional abuse are not taken seriously because contextual understanding of the work environment is required to recognize malicious intent, however this does not mitigate the serious effects of emotional abuse in the workplace.
Relationship emotional abuse
In romantic relationships, emotional abuse can manifest as attempts by the abuser to exert control over the victim through fear, gaslighting, and isolation. The abuser might be prone to angry outbursts, terrible accusations, or blatant lies. They might also disrespect their partner in front of other, refuse to let them see their friends and family, or blame the victim for problems in the relationship. Victims often feel embarrassed or ashamed of the control that their partner exerts over them and go to great lengths to hide it. Additionally, often individuals will be too scared of repercussions to attempt to leave their abuser, further perpetuating the cycle of mental health damages.
Emotional abuse is serious, no matter what shape it takes or where it manifests itself. If you or someone you know is struggling with an emotionally abusive relationship, it is crucial to reach out to Horizon Plymouth and begin to work through your trauma. Call Horizon Plymouth today to schedule an initial consultation and begin your journey towards healing.