If you or someone you know is dealing with a challenging situation and could benefit from additional support, consider talking to one of the 2,000 licensed online counselors at BetterHelp.

Mental or emotional abuse occurs when an abuser attempts to control another person. It frequently happens in romantic relationships. Unlike physical abuse, the trouble with emotional abuse is that there are no visible scars. Often victims of this form of trauma have a hard time recognizing their experience as harmful to them. The abuser is skilled at hiding their behavior. The victim may try to reach out to their family and friends for help, and their loved ones don’t believe them. The reason isn’t a lack of compassionate; it reflects how good the abuser is at hiding their behavior.

There are several kinds of emotional abuse which include neglect, name calling, limiting the victims access to finances, socially isolating the abused from their close friends and family and stonewalling. Stonewalling means the abuser intentionally ignores the victim making them feel invisible. They can go on ignoring the person for hours or even days, and it’s an effective way of controlling the abused person’s self-worth.

Emotional abuse, regardless of the techniques the perpetrator uses, is about power and control. The abuser wants to strip their partner of their voice, making them feel insignificant and worthless. If you believe you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship, you deserve to get help. Don’t be afraid to reach out and find a skilled therapist who can support you in leaving an abusive relationship. You deserve to feel safe and loved.

IMPORTANT: The information in this video is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your doctor.