“Emotional abuse is like this: You’re filled with sickening dread every morning knowing you’re facing another day of psychological warfare,” Abby Rodman writes in HuffPost. According to Psychology Today, “There are 3 million cases of domestic violence reported each year. Many more go unreported. Emotional abuse often precedes violence, but is rarely discussed.”
While nationwide, state laws have criminalized “domestic violence” and this is by all measures, a step forward for our society, what many spouses fail to realize is that psychological abuse, otherwise known as “emotional abuse” has reached epidemic proportions in relationships and marriages.
The problem is that since there’s no hitting or physical violence involved, so many people fail to recognize it because of its subtle characteristics. Often, abusers blame their victims. They act like they’re “crazy” or it’s “all in their head.” If a victim was emotionally abused in a previous relationship, they may fail to recognize the signs because they feel that such treatment is normal. They don’t know what a healthy relationship looks like.
Such a relationship may not be all bad 100% of the time. There may be episodes where the abuser is warm and affectionate, followed by down times when the abuser is critical, controlling and manipulative. When the abuse surfaces in private, there are no witnesses to tell you that you’re not crazy.
What Does an Abusive Personality Look Like?
Abusers are “self-centered, impatient, unreasonable, insensitive, unforgiving, and they lack empathy and are often jealous, suspicious, and withholding,” Darlene Lancer, JD, LMFT writes in Psychology Today. When someone is subjected to regular emotional abuse, it can lead to:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Chronic pain
- Sleep difficulties
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
According to Lancer, if you’re asking yourself, “Am I being emotionally abused?” You probably are. Remember, psychological abuse is not the same as physical abuse, but it’s still a form of abuse and it can be equally devastating. It involves behavior that is controlling, manipulating, and derogatory.
Even if you’re being emotionally abused by your spouse, that’s no reason not to pursue a cheap, no-fault divorce (assuming your spouse can work with you to achieve an amicable divorce). At Cairns Law Offices, we understand that some of our clients are leaving emotionally abusive relationships, but in our experience, getting it all over with faster and for just $299 eases the stress of the divorce significantly.
Further reading: “No Fault Divorce Saves Money, Time & Heartache.”
To meet with a Pennsylvania no-fault divorce lawyer for free, contact us today.
