8 Ways Emotional Abuse Traumatizes You

Emotional abuse is defined as the continued and deliberate mistreatment of another person by means of psychological aggression, intimidation, coercion, control, and emotional manipulation. Physical abuse is a very pressing social issue being dealt with all over the world today, but very little attention is given to understanding and helping those who suffer from emotional abuse. Verbal abuse/ emotional abuse is one of the most rampant but also most overlooked forms of abuse. It’s elusive, misunderstood, and much more difficult to recognize, but the negative impact it can have on a person’s mental health and emotional well-being shouldn’t be taken lightly. So, in this video, we decided to talk about how emotional abuse can traumatize you to spread awareness on how any form of abuse is never okay and it’s something no one should ever have to go through.

If you can relate to this list but you're not sure what you've experienced is emotional abuse, we've created a video in the past about the signs of emotional abuse: https://youtu.be/K_CCA7KAou4

Writer: Chloe Avenasa

Script Editor: Morgan Franz

Script Manager: Kelly Soong

VO: Amanda Silvera

Animator: Drivenbaty (new animator)

YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

O’Hagan, K. P. (2014). Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Problems of Definition. Child Abuse & Neglect, 19 (4); 449-461.

Teicher, M. P., Anderson, S. L. (2011). The Neurobiological Consequences of Early Stress and Childhood Maltreatment. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 27 (10); 33-44.

Grey, K., & Wegner, D. M. (2008) The Sting of Intentional Pain. Journal of Psychological Science; 19 (12); 91-102.

Gavin, H. (2011). Sticks and stones may break my bones: The harmful effects of emotional abuse on adolescents. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, & Trauma, 20(5); 503-529.

Courtney, E. A., & Johnson, J. G. (2008). Childhood emotional abuse and risk for hopelessness and depressive symptoms during adolescence. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 18(3); 281-298.

Rutledge, L. L. (2010). The role of emotional abuse in physically abusive relationships. Journal of Psychiatry, 5(12); 107-120.

Bagley, C., & Wood, M. (2013). From victim to abuser: a study on the long-term psychological and behavioral effects of childhood emotional abuse. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 14(8); 272-286.

Do you have any personal stories or video requests that you would like to share with us? If so, email us at [email protected]

If you feel down, look at this cute kitten licking itself: https://youtu.be/Wbr4nrV-4JA