Photo by Sara Naomi Lewkowicz
Physical abuse has always been one of the serious challenges which a lot of women and men experience from their partners. While a lot of organizations have raised awareness on the gravity of physical abuse, raising awareness for emotional abuse should also be as important. Though emotional abuse does not involve physical violence, the effect is just as serious.
Many women and men experience emotional abuse from their partners almost everyday. Here are signs of that you are in an emotionally abusive relationship and how you could save yourself from it:
Your partner belittles you.
The concept of being in a relationship means engaging into a partnership that involves equality. Instead seeing you as his or her equal, an emotionally abusive relationship involves a partner that treats you like an object. An emotionally abusive partner sees himself or herself as superior, which makes the concept of being in a relationship meaningless.
Your partner is controlling.
While it is understood that being in a relationship should allow yourself to grow into a better person, an emotional abusive relationship does you otherwise. Instead of pushing you to be a better version of yourself, an emotional abusive partner will make you feel less of who you are by making your decisions for you or control you.
Your partner isolates you.
There is a thin line between being protective and having boundaries when it comes to relationships but when your partner prevents you from seeing your friends or even your family out of jealousy, it is a sign of an emotionally abusive relationship. He or she will isolate you from the world because he or she does not trust you. This also involves keeping you from phone and internet privileges and forbid you from going out with your loved ones or even going out alone.
Your partner’s violent behavior.
While an emotionally abusive relationship does not necessarily involve physical violence, it is still inevitable for such to happen. It usually happens when your partner threatens to kill themselves, or worse, will threaten to harm or kill you. Sometimes the violence does not happen directly but involves venting his or her aggression out on your personal belongings. But when it does happen, it is a huge warning sign that it is an abusive relationship.
You are afraid of your partner.
While the more evident signs are seen through your partner’s behavior, another sign to look out for is how his or her actions affect you. When you are afraid of your partner, this is the time when you should be alarmed. You avoid anything that angers him and feel like nothing you do is right, even worse, you think you deserve the abusive treatment and makes you feel helpless.
How can you save yourself from an emotionally abusive relationship?
Ask for help from your loved ones
While it is true that what happens between you and your partner are private matters, it is also important to open up to your loved ones to seek guidance or help. It is okay to ask for help from people, especially from people who are willing to support you.
Seek help from professional help or organizations
When the abuse gets to an extent that there is a need to seek professional help, there are a lot of professionals such as psychiatrists, and organizations that are open to help abused women and men. Organizations such as DSWD, Gabriela, and many more are willing to support victims of physical and emotional abuse.
Walk away from the relationship
If said signs are evident in your relationship, the best way to save yourself from the abuse is to walk away from it. Do not be hesitant to end the relationship because no one deserves to be treated as such.
While these are just some the many signs of an emotionally abusive relationship, it is important to raise awareness on emotional abuse being it as serious as physical abuse. When it happens to you it is important to seek help from loved ones or professionals or simply walk away from the relationship. And when it happens to someone you know, do not be afraid to reach out to help her or him.
Love does not involve manipulation, isolation, and fear. Being in a healthy and loving relationship involves growth, equality, and trust – which an emotional abusive relationship does not have.
