Does your partner emotionally abuse you? Emotional abuse is often a sign of narcissistic abuse and can be subtle and difficult to recognize. But this type of abuse can erode your feelings of self-worth and chip away at the happiness you deserve. How can you recognize the signs of narcissistic abuse so you can take steps to protect yourself?
Threatening Behavior
An abusive person shows their tendency for violence in many ways. They may punch walls, kick the dog, break down doors, or show other violent behavior. Some forms of violence, however, are less obvious. Emotional violence can be just as dangerous and destructive. Below are some basic indicators of narcissistic and emotional abuse.
How to Recognize Narcissistic Abuse
Emotional and narcissistic abuse often manifest in these ways:
1 – Isolation. Sometimes, a person in a relationship can become possessive. A possessive person tells you they care about your safety, and that their possessive behavior proves that they love you. Taken to the extreme, possessiveness causes you to isolate yourself from the people you know and love. The goal of isolation is to control you by breaking down your emotional will to resist.
Isolation is employed by cult leaders to prevent their followers from having contact with outsiders, including their family and friends. Similarly, narcissists try to isolate their partners in order to deprive them of social support, thereby weakening their defenses and making them more dependent on the narcissist.
Additionally, the desire to isolate could be caused by a partner’s insecurity. They may project that insecurity onto you by trying to control everything you do, who you meet, and where you go. They may try to make you feel guilty for enjoying yourself or making friends. However, it’s important to remember not to cater to this excessive insecurity because it’s dysfunctional and you will lose yourself in the process.
2 – Verbal abuse. Regular verbal attacks on your character and value destroys your self-esteem. Continuous verbal assaults may cause you to put aside your most important ideals and beliefs.
Verbal abuse is characterized by critical or humiliating remarks about you as a person. If your partner continuously puts you down and makes you feel unworthy of self-respect, this is a warning sign that something is definitely wrong. Verbal abuse may escalate into sexual or physical abuse if you avoid taking action to protect yourself.
It’s also one of the biggest indicators of narcissistic abuse. When a narcissist becomes abusive, it’s likely you will start having errors in thinking because of the constant verbal abuse.
You might never feel like you can get a word in and that you’re never really heard. Your comments are likely to be ignored or invalidated.
3 – Financial abuse. Unless you’re financially independent, you don’t want to leave your finances vulnerable to a partner with abusive tendencies. They may deny you access to funds, refuse to allow you to work outside the home or spend money irresponsibly and blame the financial struggles on you.
What to Do
If you’re the victim of continuous emotional abuse within your relationship, the most important steps are to recognize the abuse and know that it is wrong. This can be a challenge for anyone who has been emotionally bullied over a period of time.
You are worthy of respect, and you can live a life that is free from the emotional abuse of your partner. Think honestly about your relationship and ask yourself these questions:
- Does your partner show, by their words and actions, that they love you and value you? Not to schmooze you over after they’ve betrayed you in some way, but on a regular basis?
- Do they seek your opinion as someone who has much to contribute?
- Do they raise their voice and criticize you often, while hardly ever providing words of affirmation that lift you up?
If you’re in an emotionally abusive relationship, take steps to change your circumstances. Seek friends who build you up and affirm that you’re valuable, and spend time with those friends. Whatever you do, don’t try to do it alone. You will need ongoing support, a coach, and a healing program to keep you on track.
Protect Yourself
If you decide to leave an emotionally abusive relationship, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself. If you choose to walk away, remember that the abuse may continue.
Take these necessary steps to protect yourself:
- Contact law enforcement officials and inform them about your situation. Request a restraining order or other protection against attacks from your partner.
- Set up a security system in your new home.
- Advise your neighbors of your current situation, and enlist their help in watching out for signs of trouble.
Remember that you are valuable. Anyone who makes you feel otherwise can only do so if you fail to put a stop to it. Enlist the help of emotionally strong, positive friends. Take action. Protect yourself. Replace emotional abuse with strength and confidence in your self-worth.
Nothing will change in our lives until we change our own behavior. Insight won’t do it. Understanding why we do the self-defeating things we do won’t make us stop doing them. Nagging and pleading with the other person to change won’t do it. We have to act. We have to take the first step down a new road.”
― Susan Forward, Emotional Blackmail
Building the Courage to Leave
When you’re in an abusive relationship, it can be difficult to see the way out. However, you don’t have to be trapped in a relationship with an abusive partner. People leave their abusive partners and start their healed lives every day.
Discover how to separate yourself from them in a safe way by using these strategies:
- Understand why you stay. You can’t gain the courage to leave until you understand why you’re staying. Are these reasons preventing you from leaving?
- Perhaps you’re staying out of fear.
- In other cases, you may feel stuck in the relationship because it’s the only thing you have right now. Despite the issues, it’s a familiar place. You may even feel secure in the familiarity.
- You might even stay because you feel that you deserve to be punished. You’re worried that you won’t be able to find someone else who is better. And, because of the abuse, you may feel responsible for the situation.
- In addition, perhaps you believe that you can fix the issues. You may think that if you love your partner enough, then they will stop being abusive.
- Strengthen your self-esteem. Low self-esteem is at the root of many abusive relationships. Increasing your confidence and self-esteem will help you gain the courage to leave the abuser. You can start by acknowledging that your self-esteem needs work.
- Look for causes for your low self-esteem. Were your parents perfectionists who expected too much from you? Did you feel inadequate growing up or at work? Once you have the answers, you can work to resolve your feelings about your past. You can put the past in the past and ensure that these negative feelings don’t affect who you are today.
- To raise your self-esteem, do a nice thing for yourself each day. Pay attention to what others say about you that is positive. Journal about it or take notes, so you always have a reminder of your positive aspects.
- Get outside help. It may benefit you to get help from friends, family, or others. You may need to turn to therapy or a doctor. In some cases, outside help is needed to leave an abusive relationship.
- Your friends, family, coworkers, or others may be able to assist you so you won’t be alone and can develop the courage to leave. There may also be community resources, nonprofits, and organizations that can help.
- Figure out your finances. Are you scared to leave your partner because you depend on them financially? If you know that you’re financially secure, then it’s easier to leave.
- When you have a job, set money aside that your abuser can’t access. You can also ask friends or family to contribute to your savings.
- When you don’t have a job, you have to be more creative. You may be able to save money from the stipends you receive. You may be able to sell some items. Perhaps you can start a store on Etsy or offer freelance services.
- Even if you’re not certain about your finances, you can make plans for the future. Prepare for a job that can support you after this relationship ends.
5. Go with the flow of the healing process. Don’t rush yourself or be hard on yourself when you feel doubt creeping in.
You don’t have to stay with an abusive partner out of fear. Relationships can be difficult to end, but it’s not impossible. Figure out a way to escape and leave them, even if you need someone to help you do it. There are resources and people who can help you get out of your abusive situation and get started on a healthier life.
Need further clarification on whether you’re with an emotionally abusive narcissist? Sign up for your free action guide below, Handling Verbal & Emotional Abuse From Your Partner – A Case Study.